煙草在線據澳大利亞聯合新聞社報道編譯　　新西蘭最大的煙草制造商將被調查向其員工提供免費卷煙一事。

　　據《先驅報》周日（8月12日）報道，帝國煙草公司的業務負責人布倫丹·沃克（Brendan Walker）證實，在Petone工廠的中間休息時會向辦公室工作人員和工人提供卷煙。

　　“這純粹是為了研究，”他告訴報社記者。

　　“事實上，我們希望收到關于那些特定的生產運行的反饋和意見。”

　　無煙法律禁止煙草制造商免費或低價分發煙草產品。

　　然而，沃克先生說，他相信帝國煙草公司是在法律允許的范圍內行事，因為員工可以選擇是否測試產品。

　　“這完全取決于個人，他們是否將這看作是一種福利。”

　　他說，這些產品上面沒有健康警告。

　　哈特谷地區公共健康無煙官員克里斯汀·弗利（Kristen Foley）說，下周（8.19-8.25）他將尋求與該公司老板討論有關這些測試產品的問題。

　　上周（8.5-8.11），帝國煙草公司正式完成了對其Petone工廠進行的4500萬新西蘭元（3480萬美元）的升級工作，該工廠向澳大利亞的出口將翻兩番。

　　這家工廠每年將生產并向澳大利亞出口超過30億支卷煙和700噸自卷煙。

　　大約250人在這家工廠工作。

　　工廠的升級遭到澳大利亞癌癥理事會和新西蘭癌癥協會的批評。

Imperial Tobacco Admit Giving Staff Free Cigarettes 'For Research'

　　NEW Zealand's largest tobacco manufacturer will be investigated for giving free cigarettes to its staff.

　　Imperial Tobacco's commercial boss Brendan Walker confirmed cigarettes were available to office staff and workers during breaks at its Petone factory, the Herald on Sunday reports.

　　"It's purely for research," he told the newspaper.

　　"The fact of the matter is we're keen to receive the feedback and comments on those particular manufacturing runs."

　　Smokefree legislation bans manufacturers from distributing tobacco products free or at a reduced charge.

　　However, Mr Walker says he is confident Imperial Tobacco is acting within the law as employees could choose whether to test products.

　　"It's entirely up to an individual whether they see it as a perk or not."

　　He said there were no health warnings on the products.

　　Hutt Valley Regional Public Health smokefree officer Kristen Foley said he would seek discussions with the company bosses next week about the test products.

　　Last week Imperial Tobacco officially completed a $NZ45 million ($A34.80 million) upgrade to its Petone factory which will quadruple its exports to Australia.

　　More than three billion cigarettes and 700 tonnes of roll-your-own tobacco will be manufactured at the plant and exported to Australia each year.

　　About 250 people work at the factory.

　　The upgrade was criticised by the Cancer Council of Australia and the New Zealand Cancer Society. Enditem