BAT Warns of Regulation's Unintended Consequences

Source from:  tr.itsmyiq.com Sep 8, 2008 09/09/2008

British American Tobacco says the UK government has to do more to tackle what it calls the significant black market in tobacco products if it is to avoid a reversal in the long-term decline in under age smoking. The company made its remark in a written response to a UK Department of Health consultation on future regulation, where it also outlined what it warned would be other unintended consequences if the government moved ahead with many of the ideas outlined in the paper 'Consultation on the Future of Tobacco Control'. BAT said the consultation paper addressed important topics, including combating under age smoking and tackling illicit trade. It proposed restricting or banning the display of tobacco products in shops and, while not a specific proposal, discussed plain packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products. "Because of the health risks associated with tobacco products, getting the regulation right in this area was important," said Michael Prideaux, BAT's director, corporate and regulatory affairs. "But great care is needed to avoid ineffectual laws with significant unintended consequences: fuelling the black market that makes cigarettes more accessible to children, ruining the livelihoods of small retailers, undermining a competitive market and breaching companies' intellectual property rights." BAT's submission can be accessed in full at www.bat.com/ukconsultation. Enditem