Plain packaging and an additional tax on manufacturers are among measures before the National Assembly to reduce consumption of tobacco products, news accounts said.

Legislators in early April overrode government objections to vote support for an extra tax on manufacturers of tobacco products reporting an annual sales rise of more than 3 per cent, or a yearly decline of less than 3 per cent, said RFI radio. A three per cent yearly sales reduction is part of the government’s tobacco control programme, RFI said. A Health Ministry proposal to introduce uniform packaging for tobacco products received a boost in the Assembly on a vote of 19 to 11 with one abstention, according to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Pending parliamentary approval, plain packaging reportedly would take effect in May, 2016. The United Kingdom and Ireland also plan to introduce plain packs for cigarettes and some other tobacco products from May, 2016.
French legislators voted to stiffen the government proposal to ban smoking in cars with children by raising the age limit to 18 from 12, the newspaper Libération reported.