Dear Editor,

RE: Plain Packs passes second reading, but passes too slowly for our liking

On behalf of all members of the Smokefree Coalition I congratulate Parliament on voting in favour of the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Standardised Packaging) Amendment Bill at its second reading last week. When tobacco causes 4500 New Zealanders to die every year, passing a measure that prevents young children from wanting to take up smoking is good social investment and great leadership from our decision makers.

But this is a measure that is taking too long to pass through its democratic process and it is not because of the public's opposition. Public support is behind the government in progressing the Smokefree Environments (Tobacco Standardised Packaging) Amendment Bill without any further delay.

Only the tobacco industry is against this measure, but its strength of opposition is so great, with threats of litigation, false information given to New Zealand media and conflicted research shown to members of parliament, we fear the lobbyists of Big Tobacco have succeeded in interfering in and even slowing down our government's decision-making. If true, this would be a breach of Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to let the tobacco industry interfere with government decision-making.

Article 11 of the FCTC matter-of-factly insists nations ban all forms of tobacco marketing on product packaging. This World Health Organisation convention provides the support of the world's best practice guidelines and peer-reviewed evidence. Let's not waste any more time allowing tobacco to cause further preventable, deadly disease: eliminate the industry's means of tempting our children with its deadly products and protect future generations so that they can enjoy smokefree lives.

Sincerely,

Dr Prudence Stone, Executive Director
Smokefree Coalition

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