The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display of Prices) (Wales) Regulations 2012

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations impose requirements in relation to the display of prices of tobacco products in a place in Wales in the course of a business.

Regulation 1 provides that these Regulations will come into force on 3 December 2012 for large shops and on 6 April 2015 for all other purposes.

Regulation 3 defines the meaning of “place” (“lle”) for the purposes of section 7C of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 (displays: prices of tobacco products). It is defined as meaning premises in Wales where tobacco products are offered for sale in the course of a business, other than premises which are accessible only by persons engaged in, or employed by, the tobacco trade and which do not display the prices of tobacco products in a way that is visible from the outside of the premises.

Regulation 4 provides that the display of prices of tobacco products in a place in Wales must comply with the requirements specified in the Regulations. Regulation 5 lays down general requirements which must be met by all such displays. Regulations 6 to 8 lay down additional requirements to be met in relation to particular means of displaying such prices. Indications of the selling price of tobacco products are also regulated by the Price Marking Order 2004.

Prices may be displayed in one or more of the following ways: by way of price lists, which meet the requirements of regulation 6; by price lists available on request, which meet the requirements of regulation 7; and, by labels on storage units, which meet the requirements of regulation 8.

Regulation 9 limits the application of these Regulations to specialist tobacconists and bulk tobacconists (as defined in regulation 2). The Regulations only place requirements on the display of prices of tobacco products by such businesses where such a display would be visible from the outside of their premises.

A draft of these Regulations has been notified to the European Commission as a technical standard pursuant to Directive 98/34/ECof the European Parliament and the Council (OJ No L204, 21.7.1998, p.37), laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations, as amended.

The Welsh Ministers' Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Life Course Branch, Health Improvement Division, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.