Collection

Tobacco and smoking: policy, regulation and guidance

These documents support local healthcare systems dealing with the harm of tobacco and provide guidance for manufacturers and importers on UK regulation.

• From: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Published: 16 April 2018
• Last updated: 29 October 2021 — See all updates

Commissioners, service providers and the NHS can use these resources to help identify need and plan interventions to reduce smoking in their communities. Manufacturers, importers and retailers of tobacco products can find information to support compliance with UK regulation.

Visit the E-cigarettes and vaping policy, regulation and guidance collection for information and other resources on e-cigarettes and vaping.

England’s policy on tobacco and smoking

• Smoke-free generation: tobacco control plan for England
  • 13 January 2020
  • Policy paper
• Tobacco control plan: delivery plan 2017 to 2022
  • 7 June 2018
  • Guidance

UK tobacco products regulation

• Packaging of tobacco products
  • 19 April 2021
  • Guidance
• Notification of tobacco or herbal products for smoking
  • 4 December 2024
  • Guidance
• Tobacco products and e-cigarette cross-border sales: registration
  • 9 December 2024
  • Guidance

Tobacco and smoking data and statistics

Public Health England (PHE) publishes Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England. These are snapshots of tobacco use, tobacco related harm and local measures to reduce this harm.

• Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2016
  • 15 June 2017
  • Accredited official statistics
• Cost of smoking to the NHS in England: 2015
  • 18 July 2017
  • Research and analysis

Evidence reviews

• E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products: evidence review
  • 2 March 2018
  • Research and analysis

Guidance for commissioners and stop smoking services

• CLeaR local tobacco control assessment
  • 18 March 2020
  • Guidance
• Alcohol, drugs and tobacco: commissioning support pack
  • 4 October 2018
  • Guidance
• Stop smoking services: models of delivery
  • 19 September 2017
  • Guidance
• Carbon monoxide (CO): algorithm for smoking cessation clinics
  • 18 December 2015
  • Guidance

Information and advice for healthcare professionals

• Stop smoking options: guidance for conversations with patients
  • 20 August 2018
  • Guidance
• Smoking and tobacco: applying All Our Health
  • 5 April 2022
  • Guidance
• Health matters: tobacco and alcohol CQUIN
  • 21 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Health matters: smoking and quitting in England
  • 15 September 2015
  • Guidance
• Health matters: tobacco standard packs
  • 15 September 2016
  • Guidance

Guidance to support a smokefree NHS

• Smoking cessation in secondary care: acute and maternity settings
  • 9 March 2017
  • Guidance
• Smoking cessation in secondary care: mental health settings
  • 9 October 2018
  • Guidance
• Screening and brief advice for alcohol and tobacco use
  • 19 December 2019
  • Guidance
• Collecting data for the tobacco and alcohol CQUIN scheme
  • 8 July 2019
  • Guidance

Guidance to support smokefree prisons and secure settings

• Smoking in prisons: management of tobacco use and nicotine withdrawal
  • 12 March 2015
  • Research and analysis

PHE protocol for engaging with the tobacco industry

• Guidance for government engagement with the tobacco industry
  • 19 June 2023
  • Guidance

Published 16 April 2018
Last updated 29 October 2021 + show all updates

1. 29 October 2021

   Re-tagging from Public Health England to Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

2. 13 May 2019

   Added 'Smoking and tobacco: applying All Our Health'.

3. 23 August 2018

   Added Stop smoking options: guidance for conversations with patients.

4. 16 April 2018

   First published.