Côte d’Ivoire has become the first country in Africa to require plain packaging on tobacco products, reports Tobacco-Free Kids.

In a statement Bintou Camara Biyeki, Director of Africa Programs at Tobacco-Free Kids, said that Côte d’Ivoire’s new requirements should spur more African nations to be bold in taking on Big Tobacco. “Historically, tobacco companies have used eye-catching packaging to market deadly tobacco products to young people and to distract from the grim health harms associated with smoking cigarettes. To reduce the appeal of tobacco products, more than 20 countries around the world have adopted plain packaging as part of a suite of tobacco control measures aimed at driving down smoking rates and preventing young people from starting to smoke,” Biyeki said.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids congratulates Côte d’Ivoire on bringing plain packaging to Africa where “strong action is needed to prevent a tobacco epidemic – and stands ready to support this life-saving public health measure”.