Graphic warnings delayed in New Zealand

While Australia has adopted graphic warnings in March 2006, the decision is not yet taken in New Zealand and advocates worry about effective delaying tactics of the industry. Such delaying tactics seem to be pervasive as many governments appear reluctant to go ahead with the graphic warnings.
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Source: TVNZ , Austalian cigarette warnings

Cigarette packets designed to shock people out of the habit could soon appear in New Zealand but anti-smoking groups are warning that tobacco companies may use delaying tactics to slow their introduction.

             

Graphic warnings on cigarette packets in Australia were introduced in March and are being hailed as a huge success.

             

Quitline, a free phone service for smokers, credits the warnings with an 86% rise in callers for the month after the campaign was launched.

             

But Australia's anti-smoking group ASH says tobacco companies have employed deliberate stalling tactics in an effort to delay and weaken the warnings.

             

"I have no doubt that the tobacco companies will use the same tactics in New Zealand as they've used here in Australia. They will tell the government they need more time, that they need a couple more years. They'll try and downsize and reduce the impact of the graphic warnings," says ASH spokesperson Anne Jones.

             

Jones also says the New Zealand government needs to be precise with legislation to avoid loopholes that tobacco companies will exploit.

             

She says that the delay in Australia gave companies a chance to minimise the warnings by producing branded tins for storing cigarettes, without graphics, which went on sale months before the warnings became law.

             

The Ministry of Health is likely to make recommendations in the next couple of months on how and when graphic warnings come into place in New Zealand.

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She says that the delay in Australia gave companies a chance to minimise the warnings by producing branded tins for storing cigarettes, without graphics, which went on sale months before the warnings became law.

The Ministry of Health is likely to make recommendations in the next couple of months on how and when graphic warnings come into place in New Zealand.