Media reports suggest that Australia has won a landmark trade case related to plain packaging of tobacco products.
A ruling from the World Trade Organization (WTO) yet to be published but leaked to a section of the media reveals that the existing Australian laws needing plain packaging for tobacco products are in compliance with international trade and intellectual property agreements.
The confirmation of the same is not expected to come until July. However, the parties related to the case have already received a confidential draft with regards to the WTO verdict as per a Bloomberg report.
Tobacco-Free Kids President Matthew Myers termed the verdict to be a landmark victory in the global fight against tobacco use if Australia indeed won the case going by media reports. Myers also called it as a resounding defeat for the tobacco fraternity which had put up stiff resistance against plain packaging laws.
In case, Australia does win the tobacco plain packaging case, then it means that tobacco products like cigarettes will have to be packaged without featuring colorful logos and other branding to lure youth and mislead consumers. The tobacco product manufacturers will not be allowed to alter their packaging to enhance the appeal of the products which have adverse affect on health.
Myers said: “Tobacco use kills more than six million people worldwide each year and is projected to kill one billion people this century unless countries take strong action now to prevent it.
“Plain packaging is a bold strategy to save lives that should be implemented as a key element of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco use, along with graphic health warnings, advertising bans, higher tobacco taxes and 100 percent smoke-free laws.”
So far, plain packaging laws have been put into force by France and the UK with the latter to implement it fully later this month. Countries like Ireland, Hungary, Norway, Slovenia, Romania and New Zealand have partially implemented the plain packaging laws.
Australia’s reported victory in the case against the tobacco industry could encourage other countries to follow suit in enforcing the same.
