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Australia a step closer to smoking curb
Source: Agencies |
November 11, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TOUGH anti-smoking laws banning brand labels passed their last major legislative hurdle in Australia yesterday and immediately faced the threat of court action from tobacco companies.
The upper house of parliament agreed new laws that from December next year will force cigarettes to be sold in plain olive packets with no branding, though they would continue to show images of the harm smoking can cause.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said: "Big tobacco has been fuming since day one that this is a law that they do not want introduced. They want to keep selling their deadly products, and we want to reduce their market.
"But we are not going to be bullied just because the companies say they might fight it in the courts. We are ready for that."
The Senate vote is the last major hurdle for the new rules, though they must be rubber-stamped by parliament's lower house in two weeks.
The laws are being closely watched by other governments considering similar moves in Europe, Canada and New Zealand, and have angered tobacco companies which plan to challenge the decision. Some countries are threatening to take Australia to the World Trade Organization.
The Himalayan nation of Bhutan banned the sale of tobacco outright earlier this year.
Tobacco giants British American Tobacco, Britain's Imperial Tobacco and Philip Morris have all threatened to go to court and seek billions in compensation, arguing that the new rules restrict their trademark and intellectual property rights.
"We are disappointed that this bill has been passed, despite there being no apparent evidence this move will make any difference to public health," British American Tobacco Australia said.
The upper house of parliament agreed new laws that from December next year will force cigarettes to be sold in plain olive packets with no branding, though they would continue to show images of the harm smoking can cause.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said: "Big tobacco has been fuming since day one that this is a law that they do not want introduced. They want to keep selling their deadly products, and we want to reduce their market.
"But we are not going to be bullied just because the companies say they might fight it in the courts. We are ready for that."
The Senate vote is the last major hurdle for the new rules, though they must be rubber-stamped by parliament's lower house in two weeks.
The laws are being closely watched by other governments considering similar moves in Europe, Canada and New Zealand, and have angered tobacco companies which plan to challenge the decision. Some countries are threatening to take Australia to the World Trade Organization.
The Himalayan nation of Bhutan banned the sale of tobacco outright earlier this year.
Tobacco giants British American Tobacco, Britain's Imperial Tobacco and Philip Morris have all threatened to go to court and seek billions in compensation, arguing that the new rules restrict their trademark and intellectual property rights.
"We are disappointed that this bill has been passed, despite there being no apparent evidence this move will make any difference to public health," British American Tobacco Australia said.
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