Australia Plain Pack ''Concerns'' Slows New Zealand Progress

Source from:  Packing News 02/17/2016

Following New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's comments that a plain tobacco packaging law would come into effect soon, the director of the Consumer Packaging Manufacturers Alliance (CPMA) told Packaging News that there are various reasons why the process is taking so long, mainly issues resulting from the law in neighbouring Australia.

Mike Ridgway, who visited　New Zealand　last year in furtherance of research into the introduction of plain packaging, said: "The progress of the legislation is very slowly going through the necessary committee in Wellington.

"However concerns have been expressed regarding the potential growth of illicit trade which is now in excess of 14% in neighbouring Australia with all indications that this trend will follow in a similar way in countries that adopt the regulation.

"Delays in New Zealand have awaited the outcome of legal cases involving Australia and also the political composition between political parties in that country." Enditem