Plain cigarette packaging does not lead to an increase in illicit trade or a loss of revenue to the State, research carried out in Australia, the first country to introduce the packaging, has found.
Ireland has come under pressure from German MEPs and business groups to abandon plans to be the first EU member to introduce uniform packaging.
It emerged last month that a group of 27 MEPs, mainly German, wrote to Taoiseach Enda Kenny claiming the plans would “open the door” to illicit trade and “restrict” fair competition.
The Taxpayers Association of Europe, a lobby group, also warned the Taoiseach that Ireland’s plain packaging tobacco plans would result in extensive tax losses and would pose a threat to the State’s finances.
However, a study for Melbourne’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer found “no evidence for industry arguments against the packaging”.
Source: Stephen Rogers, Irish Examiner, 02/09/2013
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