The World Trade Organisation has thrown out the final legal challenge to Australia’s tobacco plain packaging laws. Now countries across the world can implement this game-changing public health policy.
Then Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Health Minister Tanya Plibersek after the High Court rejected the legal challenge by tobacco companies to plain packaging laws, August 15, 2012.
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Tobacco companies stalled introducing plain packs, explored loopholes in the law and didn’t follow through with suggested price cuts.
An Ottawa high school student looks at plain cigarette packaging examples on World No Tobacco Day in May 2016. Tobacco companies are railing against Ottawa’s plans for plain cigarette packaging in Canada.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The Canadian government is currently drafting regulations on plain packaging for cigarettes. Tobacco companies are trying to weaken the regulations via lobbying and misleading PR campaigns.
South Africa was a leader in tobacco control but has not updated its policies adequately.
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South Africa’s proposed new tobacco laws will tighten the grip on how cigarettes and other tobacco products are sold, marketed and regulated in the country.
No wonder we’re addicted to junk food. Neuroscience shows food packaging affects our enjoyment of these foods, and plays on the same brain processes as hard drug addiction.
Former Attorney-General Nicola Roxon backed Australia’s plain tobacco packaging legislation at the time of its 2012 challenge in the High Court. The latest World Trade Organisation dispute is the third major challenge on legal or trade grounds.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has reportedly backed Australia’s laws on plain tobacco packaging implemented from December 2012. The apparent decision marks the end of the last of three cases brought…
Protecting children’s health starts with curbing formula adverts.
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Cigarette brands present images of slender, stylish women and strong, independent men. Plain packaging breaks this positive brand identity for some smokers.
South Africa’s proposed tax on sugary drinks will help improve public health despite the overwrought opposition from the industry.
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The decision to tax sugary drinks in South Africa faces furious industry opposition, but global experience shows industry cannot be trusted to put public health before profits.
Tobacco companies are adapting to Australia’s plain packaging laws by lowering prices and changing their marketing strategies.
Chris Wattie/Reuters
It is three years since Australia fully implemented its historic tobacco plain packaging law. From December 1, 2012, all tobacco products have been required to be sold in the mandated standardised packs…
Canada has lost or settled seven ISDS claims in the last decade, paying out more than CA$170 million in damages.
Reuters/Blair Gable
The experience of Canada, which agreed to an ISDS clause in its North American Free Trade agreement, should give pause to Australia.
‘The people of the United Kingdom’ felt the tobacco industry’s record of addicting children and then killing one in two of those who don’t escape their clutches did matter.
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Cancer Council Victoria is contesting British American Tobacco’s request for survey data about teenagers’ smoking habits. Here’s the story of a UK research group who faced a similar request.
The case for compensation is worthless: the value of nothing is nothing.
AAP/Lucas Coch
Imagine you were about to buy a property and were advised that in two years time, a major freeway would be built two hundred metres away, greatly diminishing the value of your purchase. Then imagine you…