ASH Scotland’s chief executive Sheila Duffy has written to the leaders of the main parties calling on them to support the measure.

She wants greater transparency and full disclosure of the tobacco industry’s conduct and finances.

Ms Duffy said the public needs a full explanation of how tobacco products are designed, and the materials involved. Such information is not mandatory in the UK.

Official figures suggest smoking causes 13,500 deaths in Scotland every year.

Ms Duffy said: “This is a shocking waste of life yet there is no comprehensive regulation of the products that cause such harm.

“Tobacco companies are out to make a profit by selling their lethal product and will do all they can to attract new consumers. New brand variants are introduced every year, meaning there has been an increase of 44% in just six years, with a record 300 variants available now from 79 in 2003.”

She pointed out that Canada forces tobacco companies to provide the country’s health chiefs with annual reports which include their sales data, manufacturing information, tobacco product ingredients, toxic constituents, toxic emissions and research activities.

She added: “I would like to see the same in the UK and I am calling on leaders to pledge to introduce a UK regulatory authority for ­nicotine and tobacco.”