Ireland: Minister Expecting Fight on Tobacco

Source from:  Independent.ie  12/06/2013

The global tobacco industry is terrified of Ireland's plans to push through standardised packaging, the health minister has claimed.

James Reilly said he expects big tobacco firms to launch a smattering of legal challenges against the laws, but insisted the Government will make sure they are airtight.

"I would be astonished if the tobacco industry doesn't fight us tooth and nail on this, because they do more research than anybody and they have billions at their disposal," Dr Reilly said.

"They know it's going to work as well and that's why they're terrified of it. And they are going to leave no stone unturned and no group unsolicited for support to try and block this."

Large graphic images and health warnings will dominate cigarette packets under the new laws, which Dr Reilly said will help achieve his target of a tobacco-free Ireland by 2025.

He dismissed concerns that the standardised packaging would make it easier for illicit tobacco traders to peddle their goods.

And he insisted all measures would be taken to ensure the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013 is examined closely and "legally proofed".

"It's about putting another nail in the coffin of these coughing nails," Dr Reilly said.

Ireland is the second country in the world - after Australia - to introduce the plain packaging.

The UK is expected to have completed a review of its benefits by this March, and Scotland and New Zealand have indicated they will follow suit.

Dr Reilly warned the tobacco industry would try to intimidate Ireland.

"It was reported to me that they were in Europe in the Commissioner's office and, I can't verify this, but they were threatening that they would sue Ireland for our national gross domestic products in relation to intellectual property," Dr Reilly said.

"But I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate very clearly that a society that would put the lives and wellbeing of its citizens behind intellectual property rights would be a fairly strange society."

By introducing the laws that make it mandatory for tobacco to be sold in standardised packaging, the Government hopes to make it harder for manufacturers to promote their brand. Enditem