BATNZ welcomes plain packaging discussion

Media Release
23 July 2012
For Immediate Release

BATNZ welcomes plain packaging discussion

British American Tobacco New Zealand (BATNZ) welcomes Minister Turia’s consultation period on plain packaging and will be using this time to discuss the significant unintended consequences that are associated with her proposal.

“This unproven proposal could back-fire on the Government by diminishing intellectual property rights; making tobacco more affordable through increased price competition and growing the illegal tobacco market; setting a troubling precedent for other industries and damaging New Zealand’s international trade reputation,” said Nick Booth, company spokesman for BATNZ.

"We're strongly opposed to the Minister's proposal to remove our branding, our valuable property," Mr Booth continued.

“BATNZ trusts that common-sense will prevail with intellectual property rights being protected and looks forward to the consultation process achieving that,” said Mr Booth.

ends

© Scoop Media