2 ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁in ▁Wales , ▁ 3 0 ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁in ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁and ▁ 1 ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁in ▁England . ▁ ▁Further ▁restrictions ▁ ▁On ▁ 6 ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁the ▁display ▁of ▁to b acco ▁products ▁was ▁b anned ▁in ▁ret ail ers ▁larger ▁than ▁ 2 8 0 ▁square ▁metres ▁in ▁England . ▁The ▁ban ▁affected ▁small ▁ret ail ers ▁three ▁years ▁later ▁on ▁ 6 ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁the ▁Conserv ative - Lib ▁Dem ▁coal ition ▁government ▁committed ▁itself ▁to ▁holding ▁a ▁public ▁consult ation ▁on ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁plain ▁to b acco ▁pack aging . ▁In fl uen ced ▁by ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁plain ▁pack aging ▁in ▁Australia , ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Commons ▁voted ▁ 3 6 7 – 1 1 3 ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁to ▁pass ▁the ▁Children ▁and ▁Famil ies ▁Act ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁which ▁would ▁give ▁the ▁government ▁the ▁power ▁to ▁require ▁plain ▁pack aging ▁for ▁to b acco ▁products . ▁This ▁came ▁into ▁force ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁but ▁to b acco ▁companies ▁were ▁given ▁one ▁year ▁to ▁sell ▁off ▁remaining ▁stock ; ▁in ▁which ▁afterwards , ▁all ▁to b acco ▁products ▁sold ▁in ▁the ▁UK ▁must ▁follow ▁plain ▁pack aging ▁laws . ▁On ▁ 1 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1