WTO said to back tobacco logo ban in Australia

The World Trade Organization upheld Australia’s right to impose plain-package label restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, dealing a blow to the cigarette industry, according to two people close to the situation, reports The Japan News.
A WTO dispute-settlement panel backed Australia’s argument that the rules it set in 2011 don’t violate trade law because they qualify as a legitimate public health measure, the people said, asking not to be identified because the decision isn’t yet public. The initial notification of the ruling was circulated to the parties of the dispute on May 2, according to a spokesman for the WTO who declined to comment on its content.
The decision could usher in a new wave of global tobacco restrictions from other countries that have sought to deter smoking among their citizens through the use of plain packaging rules. 
Australia was the first country to prohibit tobacco logos, and many countries have hesitated to implement such measures after four tobacco-producing countries filed complaints in 2012 and 2013. Philip Morris International Inc. and Japan Tobacco Inc. have argued that such rules could set a 
precedent for other countries to implement new labeling rules for tobacco, alcohol and junk food.
Imperial Brands Plc, which sells cigarettes under the Kool and Gauloises brands, led declines among tobacco stocks, dropping as much as 2.8 percent. Plain packaging may hurt smaller cigarette makers the most if smokers increasingly adopt the best-known options such as Marlboro or Camel given the absence of marketing. 

 

WTO said to back tobacco logo ban in Australia

The World Trade Organization upheld Australias right to impose plain-package label restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, dealing a blow to the cigarette industry, according to two people close to the situation, reports The Japan News. A WTO dispute-settlement panel backed Australias argument that the rules it set in 2011 dont violate trade law because they qualify as a legitimate public health measure, the people said, asking not to be identified because the decision isnt yet public. The initial notification of the ruling was circulated to the parties of the dispute on May 2, according to a spokesman for the WTO who declined to comment on its content. The decision could usher in a new wave of global tobacco restrictions from other countries that have sought to deter smoking among their citizens through the use of plain packaging rules. Australia was the first country to prohibit tobacco logos, and many countries have hesitated to implement such measures after four tobacco-producing countries filed complaints in 2012 and 2013. Philip Morris International Inc. and Japan Tobacco Inc. have argued that such rules could set a precedent for other countries to implement new labeling rules for tobacco, alcohol and junk food. Imperial Brands Plc, which sells cigarettes under the Kool and Gauloises brands, led declines among tobacco stocks, dropping as much as 2.8 percent. Plain packaging may hurt smaller cigarette makers the most if smokers increasingly adopt the best-known options such as Marlboro or Camel given the absence of marketing.