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<p>The Department assesses the impact of all proposed measures before laying legislation
using standard government methodology. These assessments are set out in Impact Assessments
which are scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee before publication alongside
the Statutory Instrument. Impact Assessments specifically look at the impacts on small
and micro businesses. A number of the tobacco measures contain commitments to further
review the impact of the legislation within five years of them coming into force.</p><p>
</p><p>The Department assesses the impact of tobacco control measures on an ongoing
basis as it develops policy and considers new measures. In September 2013, the Department
published An Audit of the impact of the Department of Health’s Regulations upon business.
A copy of the report is attached. The Audit report covered all regulations for which
the Department has responsibility believed to have a potential cost to business, including
those relating to tobacco control. As advised in the report, there is a robust cost-benefit
case for the tobacco control regulations considered and experience shows that initiatives
to reduce smoking prevalence work best in combination, with cumulative effects over
time.</p>
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