The tobacco industry will mount a ferocious attack on Ireland’s plain packaging plan, a leading Australian academic has warned.
Mike Daube played a pivotal role in the introduction of plain packaged cigarettes in Australia in December 2012.
Prof Daube, a key figure in the international anti-tobacco lobby since the early 1970s, said he had never seen an attack by the industry as ferocious as it had been on plain packaging.
Ireland hopes to be the first EU member to introduce plain packaging. However, nine member states have objected to the proposals — Italy, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain have all lodged concerns.
The Department of Health is currently considering opinions before responding to the European Commission and has three months to do so.
Tobacco giants are believed to be considering suing Ireland if plain packaging proposals are implemented.
The Irish Cancer Society had invited Prof Daube to Dublin to speak about the success of plan packaging in Australia.
Source: Evelyn Ring, Irish Examiner, 24/09/14
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