Geneva. The World Trade Organization will not rule on a legal challenge to Australia’s landmark tobacco packaging laws until at least the first half of 2016, the panel of judges said on Tuesday, a delay that could slow anti-tobacco laws elsewhere.
Australia’s “plain packaging” rules ban colorful logos and are seen by public health advocates as heralding a new era of tobacco control. But Cuba, Indonesia, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Ukraine say the laws are an illegal restriction on trade.
Both supporters and opponents say such restrictions could spread to alcohol and some foods with high sugar or fat content, making the …read more
Source: The Jakarta Globe
