CIGARETTES and tobacco will no longer be displayed in shops under new legislation being implemented by the Government.

Only temporary displays in "certain limited circumstances" will be allowed, with the rules phased in to minimise the impact on businesses, according to a statement from the Department of Health this morning.

The regulations will come into force for large stores on April 6 2012 and on April 6 2015 for all other shops.

The Government is keeping an "open mind" on plain packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products, and is planning a consultation on different options before the end of this year, the statement said.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley published Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England to coincide with national No Smoking Day.

Overall, ministers hope to see a drop in the proportion of adults smoking to 18.5% or less by the end of 2015 (from 21.2% at present). This would result in around 210,000 fewer adult smokers a year.

They also plan to cut smoking rates among 15-year-olds to 12% from 15%, and smoking rates in pregnancy to 11% from 14%.

The document includes measures to implement the tobacco display laws in the Health Act 2009.

It further commits to "consult on options to reduce the promotional impact of tobacco packaging, including plain packaging, before the end of 2011".

Ministers will also look at the impact of the advertising and promotion of smoking accessories, such as cigarette papers, on smoking rates.

Despite an outright ban on tobacco advertising in 2002 "the tobacco industry continues to find ways of promoting tobacco products, for example through packaging, point of sale displays and through entertainment media, including the internet", the document says.

Ministers therefore intend to "work with media regulators and the entertainment industry around the portrayal of smoking in entertainment media, and consider whether the internet is being used to promote tobacco to young people in the UK".

The Government pledges to defend tobacco legislation from legal challenges by tobacco companies.

At present there are two judicial review cases brought by the tobacco industry over the ban on tobacco being sold in vending machines, a law that will come into force in October.

The Government also commits to follow a policy of using tax to maintain the high price of tobacco products at levels that impact on smoking prevalence, and ensure proper enforcement of laws around sales, including to under age children.

Mr Lansley said: "Smoking is undeniably one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health.

"Over eight million people in England still smoke and it causes more than 80,000 deaths each year.

"Smoking affects the health of smokers and their families. My ambition is to reduce smoking rates faster over the next five years than has been achieved in the past five years.

"We want to do everything we can to help people to choose to stop smoking and encourage young people not to start smoking in the first place.

"We will help local communities to take a comprehensive approach to reducing smoking so we can change social attitudes to smoking."

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said: "Nearly all adult smokers started smoking before they turned 18 and every year, over 300,000 children under 16 try smoking.

"I strongly support the ending of tobacco displays in shops.

"We cannot ignore the targeting of young people through these displays that encourage and recruit them to start smoking at an age when they are less able to make an informed choice.

"I also welcome the commitment by the Government to look further at tobacco packaging and to consider whether a requirement for plain packaging might bring additional public health benefits, all of which keep up the essential momentum needed to create a truly smokefree future.

"The measures announced today will help reduce smoking rates, protect children from being tempted to start smoking and help adults who are trying to quit."

Will the changes make any difference? Should plain packaging be introduced? Are you a smoker and resent these changes? Leave a comment below.