On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2016, celebrated on 31 May, WHO and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control call on countries to prepare for plain packaging (standardized) of tobacco products.
Plain packaging
The neutral packaging refers to measures that restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colors, brand images or promotional text on packaging excluding brand names and product printed in normal font and a standard color.
Plain (standardized) packaging of tobacco products can save lives by reducing demand for tobacco products and promote public health by:

- Reducing the attractiveness of tobacco
- Restricting tobacco advertising and promotion
- limiting misleading packaging and labelling
- And increasing the effectiveness of health warnings.

In 2012, Australia became the first country to fully implement plain packaging. It has also been implemented in Ireland and the United Kingdom have enacted laws to impose plain packaging in 2016, France, Norway, Hungary, Swede, Finland, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Turkey and South Africa are exploring the option. Countries like Togo and Burkina Faso have preparing to introduce the measure.

The article 11 of the World Health organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control regarding the packaging and labelling of tobacco products mentioned that “each packet and package of tobacco products and all forms of outside packaging and labeling of such products also carry set health warnings describing the harmful effects of tobacco use, and may include other appropriate message. The article 13.4 (b) on advertising of tobacco promotion and sponsorship
“Requires a health warning and other warnings or suitable messages accompany all advertising of tobacco and, if applicable, any promotion and sponsorship of tobacco”

Role of the foundation
The Foundation for capacity building in Africa, with the support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, supports civil society organizations in different countries: the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA) in Uganda, the University of Cape Town, Economics for Tobacco control Project South Africa, the Alliance for Tobacco control in Africa (ATCA) in Togo, and the Ministry of Health in Senegal to support tobacco control.
Supported civil society organizations include:
• The Mauritanian Association for the Fight against Tuberculosis and AIDS (AMALUTS) - Mauritania
• The Initiative for Education and Tobacco Control (EITC) -Benin
• Legislative Centre for Civil Society Advocacy (CISLAC) -Nigeria
• The African Network of Information and Action against Drugs (RAID) -Gambia
• The Popular Movement for Health in Gabon (MPS) -Gabon
• The International Institute for Legislative Affairs (LIBE) -Kenya
• The Parliamentary Forum on NCDs (PFNCD) -Uganda
• The Association Prevenir-Senegal
• Mathiwos Wondu -YeEthiopia Cancer Society (MWECS)-Ethiopia
Among the CSO target countries above, five of them have laws against smoking and already implement them. These are: Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Gabon. The other four countries are working on the adoption of smoke-free laws in line with the FCTC, including TAPS and the plain packaging laws are part of the line with the FCTC.