Blink and you would have missed it.
The BMJ yesterday published an open letter calling on the Government to "confirm that the regulations on standardised (plain) packaging of cigarettes and tobacco products will be published soon".
It was signed by more than 600 doctors, nurses and other NHS health professionals who are described as "experts" although the exact nature of their expertise wasn't revealed.
Interestingly the letter got very little publicity. It was mentioned on ITV's Good Morning Britain for whom I did an interview, recorded in a dimly lit room in London on Tuesday afternoon.
BBC News also covered it, but only online and with a quote from Forest (Ministers urged to speed up plain cigarettes plans).
MSN News also featured it, again with a comment by Forest (Push for plain cigarette packs), and that was it, apart from one or two local papers and medical journals.
I think perhaps plain packaging fatigue has set in. For the record, here's Forest's full response:
"The government is right to take its time. The impact of standardised packaging on retailers and consumers could be extremely damaging.
"Evidence suggests that plain packaging could fuel illicit and lead to the UK being flooded with fake cigarettes.
"If the consultation on the regulations is to have any meaning ministers must keep an open mind.
"A decision to introduce standardised packaging must be based on hard evidence that it will stop the next generation of children smoking.
"Conjecture and subjective opinion, which is all we've seen so far, are not enough."
The good news, if you're opposed to plain packs, is that the consultation will gives us an excellent peg on which to hang our 'No, Prime Minister' campaign.
Out latest initiative is gathering force, and numbers, every day. Click here and here (MessageSpace).
If you haven't signed the letter to the PM opposing plain packaging please do it now.
