Australian Parliament Backs Anti-Smoking Laws

Australia is on tap to pass one of the world's toughest smoking laws.

June 01, 2011

CANBERRA, Australian Capital Territory - Australia will soon have the world??s harshest smoking laws after opponents said they would not fight the government??s proposals, Reuters reports. The laws include making tobacco companies wrap cigarettes in plain green packaging.

The measure would restrict the packaging to an olive green with the brand and product name only appearing in standard text and color. British American Tobacco, which sells Benson & Hedges, Dunhill and Winfield brands, said the proposal would violate international intellectual property and trademark laws.

The government wants the law to take effect on Jan. 1, 2012, with a six-month grace period to comply. Britain, Canada, the European Union and New Zealand are watching to see if Australia will succeed with this law before moving forward with similar packaging restrictions. Analysts predict that emerging tobacco markets of Brazil, Indonesia and Russia could embrace plain packaging, which is intended to reduce smoking.

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