South Korea: Warning Position under Fire

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 04/05/2016

Having selected the graphic health warnings that are to be included on cigarette packs, the government of South Korea now has to decide where those warnings should be placed, according to a story in The Korea Times.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare wants the images to be included from the top of packs, accounting for 30 percent of the area; or 50 percent when written warnings are taken into account.

But a coalition of cigarette manufacturers and smokers has protested against this measure yesterday, saying it infringed manufacturers' and retailers' rights to promote products, and smokers' rights not to be discriminated against over personal choice.

The ministry says the images should occupy the upper part of packs so customers can clearly see the warnings when the packs are on retail shelves.

A group of cigarette manufacturers comprising KT&G, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International are among the strongest opponents of the measure. "The measure infringes upon our right to promote our products by using attractive designs," the group said in a statement.

The Korea Tobacco Retailer Association (KTRA), meanwhile, said the measure amounted to obstruction of business. Retailers have a right to make products more appealing to customers, the KTRA said in a statement.

"Forcing us to display such disturbing pictures severely infringes our right to pursue profit," it said.

And smokers are also opposed to the measure. The Korea Smokers' Association (KSA) said the measure infringed on the right of smokers to pursue happiness, which was provided for under the Constitution. "The Constitution guarantees individual right to choose in pursuit of happiness, a fundamental right in a democratic society, which definitely includes the right to choose smoking," the group said in its statement.

"We are diligent taxpaying citizens who are entitled to demand our rights be respected as much as those of non-smokers."

The ministry was said by the Times to remain undeterred. Enditem