Australia Plans to Introduce Plain Cigarette Packaging Laws
- 13 years ago
The Australian government is taking on the big tobacco companies in a bid to reduce smoking-related diseases. The country's Health Minister unveiled plans for tough anti-smoking laws, despite the threat of industry legal action.
The Australian government plans to force tobacco companies to use plain green packaging for cigarettes, despite the threat of industry legal action.
On Thursday, Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the draft laws, which will shortly go to parliament, would, if passed, help reduce thousands of smoking-related deaths each year that cost the economy about $32 billion.
[Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing]:
"We are going to ensure that in Australia there are no remaining avenues for tobacco companies to market and promote their products, particularly to young people."
Roxon says the legislation will restrict tobacco industry logos, brand imagery, colors and promotional text appearing on packs, with the only distinguishing marks being the brand and product name in a standard text and color.
Olive green packaging had been decided on, because research showed smokers found it the least attractive color.
Although smoking in Australia has generally been declining, around 22 billion sticks are still sold in the country each year.
The country's health authorities say smoking-related illnesses kill more than 15,000 Australians each year and that smoking is the largest preventable cause of disease and death.
[Fiona Sarkie, Executive Director, Quit]:
"If we can through the removal of any logos, colors any glamour associations with smoking achieve that much so kids won't experiment and become addicted to smoking, we have done a great thing."
British American Tobacco Australia, whose brands include Winfield, Dunhill and Benson & Hedges, says the government's plans would infringe international trademark and intellectual property laws.
The Australian government plans to force tobacco companies to use plain green packaging for cigarettes, despite the threat of industry legal action.
On Thursday, Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the draft laws, which will shortly go to parliament, would, if passed, help reduce thousands of smoking-related deaths each year that cost the economy about $32 billion.
[Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing]:
"We are going to ensure that in Australia there are no remaining avenues for tobacco companies to market and promote their products, particularly to young people."
Roxon says the legislation will restrict tobacco industry logos, brand imagery, colors and promotional text appearing on packs, with the only distinguishing marks being the brand and product name in a standard text and color.
Olive green packaging had been decided on, because research showed smokers found it the least attractive color.
Although smoking in Australia has generally been declining, around 22 billion sticks are still sold in the country each year.
The country's health authorities say smoking-related illnesses kill more than 15,000 Australians each year and that smoking is the largest preventable cause of disease and death.
[Fiona Sarkie, Executive Director, Quit]:
"If we can through the removal of any logos, colors any glamour associations with smoking achieve that much so kids won't experiment and become addicted to smoking, we have done a great thing."
British American Tobacco Australia, whose brands include Winfield, Dunhill and Benson & Hedges, says the government's plans would infringe international trademark and intellectual property laws.