The nursing union is giving a thumbs up to Health Ministers Tony Ryall and Tariana Turia for standing firm in the wake of a Big Tobacco ad campaign against the government’s proposal for plain packaging of cigarettes.
British American Tobacco this week launched a major advertising campaign against New Zealand’s proposal to follow Australia’s decision and strip branding from cigarette packs. The “Agree Disagree” campaign argues the plain packaging proposal – currently out for public consultation – is robbing them of their intellectual property rights.
Kerrie Nuku, kaiwhakahaere of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and spokesperson for the Smokefree Coalition, backs plain packaging and said for too long New Zealanders had accepted the death and harm caused by tobacco.
She said it was great to hear Minister of Health Tony Ryall telling the giant tobacco company PR machine that they were “wasting the hundreds of thousands of dollars” the campaign could cost trying to overturn plans to reduce tobacco’s appeal through plain packaging.
“NZNO fully agrees with the wise decision to put the health of New Zealanders before commercial interests.”
Australia’s plain packaging policy is due to come fully into force in December 2012. The Australian High Court recently rejected a constitutional challenge by several tobacco companies against plain packaging. However, it is understood several more legal challenges are still being attempted outside of Australia using trade agreements.
The New Zealand government “agreed in principle” in April to introduce a plain packaging regime in line with Australia, subject to public consultation, arguing it was an effective way to reduce tobacco product’s appeal, would help reduce the death toll, and disease burden of smoking, and would be a significant step towards the 2025 goal of a smokefree New Zealand.
The 40-page Ministry of Health consultation document says branding imagery and colours on tobacco packaging increase the appeal to youth and young adults and also help to create false beliefs that some brands are less harmful than others.
Under the plain packaging proposal, health warning messages and graphic images would increase from 30 per cent of the front of the pack to 75 per cent (it is already 90 per cent on the back of the pack). Brand names could still be printed on packs but under strict controls.
Nuku said tobacco companies had known their product causes cancer for more than 60 years and yet were still trying to hook new smokers with their advertising.
“Plain packaging will take some of that power away,” she said.
Submissions on the government’s proposal to introduce plain packaging of tobacco product close on October 5. You can find the consultation document and submission form here.
