South Africa: FMF Opposes Tobacco Branding Legislation

Source from:  Times LIVE 09/29/2015

The Free Market Foundation (FMF) thinks "you need to stand up for tobacco…even those opposed to smoking".

An FMF statement on Monday said it is concerned about the "raft of new legislation that is being proposed by government around tobacco‚ liquor‚ baby food and other legislation that will see the wholesale removal of branding".

The FMF has roped in "brand guru Jeremy Sampson" to discuss "the erosion of brands and why every South African should be concerned about legislation that undermines the value and presence of brands" on Tuesday.

While on the surface the new legislation appears to benefit consumers'‚ the FMF said "there are many unintended consequences that need to be highlighted".

Sampson‚ the executive chairman of Interbrand Sampson‚ "will focus on proposals to introduce cigarette 'plain packaging' into South Africa". Enditem