Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Stand Up to Tobacco Industry, Australia Urges Other Nations

by Kathy Jones on June 1, 2013 at 11:40 PM
 Stand Up to Tobacco Industry, Australia Urges Other Nations

Governments around the globe have been urged by Australia to stand up to the tobacco industry. The Oz government said it was confident of victory in a new legal battle over its landmark plain packaging rules.

"Big tobacco will stop at nothing to use every opportunity they can to intimidate countries to not take appropriate public health measures," Jane Halton, Australia's health minister, told AFP in Geneva at a meeting marking World No Tobacco Day.

Advertisement

Australia's pioneering legislation, in force since December, aims to further cut smoking rates by requiring tobacco products to be sold in drab green boxes with the same typeface and graphic images of diseased smokers.

Halton addressed a session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday, as the UN agency seeks tougher global measures to rein in tobacco use, which claims six million lives a year.
Advertisement

"Tobacco continues to cause enormous suffering and death which is totally avoidable," she told participants.

"We urge other nations to defy the tobacco industry."

New Zealand and Ireland are planning plain packaging rules, despite a tobacco industry-backed challenge to Australia's law at the World Trade Organisation by cigar-producers Cuba, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, plus Ukraine.

The plaintiff countries maintain that Australia's law breaches international trade rules and intellectual property rights to brands -- arguments that failed to convince Australia's High Court in a case brought by tobacco firms.

"We have said very clearly, we are responsible members of the global community, we will turn up to the WTO and we will deal with the case appropriately and responsibly," Halton told AFP.

"We are very confident. But yes, it's another front that they've opened," she added.

The WHO is concerned that the industry is replenishing its customer pool via new ways of marketing -- chiefly aimed at young consumers -- despite measures in a 2005 treaty such as restrictions on billboards and TV ads.

"The tobacco industry needs to attract new victims to replace those who die or manage to quit, just to maintain profits," said Hans Troedsson, the WHO's executive director.

The WHO points to tactics including selling branded clothing, product-placement in reality TV shows, and event sponsorship.

"Whats the solution? A comprehensive ban on all advertising, promotion and sponsorship activities," said Troedsson, adding that such rules drove down smoking rates in countries that enacted them.

Source: AFP
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest General Health News

First Human Case of Rare Swine Flu Strain H1N2 Found in UK
Swine influenza A viruses, including subtypes H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2, are prominent among pigs and sporadically transmit to humans.
Unraveling the Mystery Respiratory Illness in US Dogs
The microorganism "is a newly identified potential disease-causing agent, possibly originating from or evolving within the dog's microbiome."
Why Red Wine Cause Headache?
Flavanol naturally present in red wine can compromise the proper metabolism of alcohol and lead to a headache.
Raw Meat Raises Antibiotic-Resistant E.Coli Risk in Dogs
To reduce bacterial risks, pet owners can switch to a non-raw diet or obtain quality raw meat for cooking before feeding dogs.
U.S. Men Die 6 Years Earlier Than Women- A Review on Life Expectancy Gap
Since 2010, the gender gap in life expectancy in the US has increased to six years because of the pandemic, accidents, opioid overdoses, injuries, and suicide.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Stand Up to Tobacco Industry, Australia Urges Other Nations Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests