Health Minister Marisol Touraine announced a series of new measures to combat tobacco consumption in France, including the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products, Reuters reported.

Following expert advice that standardised packaging for tobacco products has reduced smoking rates in Australia, the proposed French measures go beyond current EU laws which require warnings over 65% of packs. Touraine said that if the ban comes into effect, packs will be "the same shape, same size, same colour, same typeset".
The new measures, which will come into effect once the law is approved by the National Assembly, also include legislation to ban smoking in children's play areas public parks, workplaces, and in cars carrying children under 12. Advertising of E-cigarettes will be restricted before being banned in 2016.
The minister identified tobacco as the leading cause of death in the country and the growing use of tobacco products among young people.