煙草在線據《澳大利亞人報》報道編譯　　位高權重的美國商業機構發表了一項聯合聲明，表示“高度重視”政府對煙草產品引入平裝的決定。

　　他們說這將違反新西蘭的國際貿易義務，促進非法貿易和假冒產品泛濫。

　　“當然我們尊重新西蘭管理公共利益的權利，但是這種做法違背了監管的最佳實踐規則，”該組織稱。

　　“最重要的是，沒有令人信服的證據表明，它會促進公共利益。”

　　該組織包括美國商會、美國全國制造商協會、美國貿易突發事件委員會、美國國際貿易委員會、全國對外貿易理事會、跨大西洋貿易委員會和美國東盟商務理事會。

　　他們說，去年他們向政府提交了一份意見書，欲重申那些觀點。

　　“盡管目前這種努力只局限于煙草產品，但是我們認為這是對知識產權和所依賴的交易系統的規則的一個系統性威脅。”

　　“我們希望新西蘭政府將考慮，如果其他政府也有膽量采取類似措施，我們提出的對新西蘭出口的可能影響，比如對乳制品和酒。”

　　政府于2月19日周二宣布它將在今年推出立法，強制實施平裝。

　　它態度謹慎，在措施實施之前，它將關注澳大利亞的事態發展。

　　平裝是在12月引入澳大利亞的，這些大煙草公司已經輸掉了針對平裝的官司。

US Groups Object to Plain Tobacco Packs

　　HIGH-POWERED US business organisations have issued a joint statement expressing "deep concern" with the government's decision to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.

　　They say it will violate New Zealand's international trade obligations and facilitate illicit trade and counterfeiting.

　　"Of course we respect the right of New Zealand to regulate in the public interest, but this approach is contrary to regulatory best practices," the organisations said.

　　"Above all, there is no compelling evidence that it will actually advance the public interest."

　　The organisations include the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Emergency Committee for American Trade, the United States Council for International Business, the National Foreign Trade council, the Transatlantic Business Council and the US-ASEAN Business council.

　　They say they made a submission to the government last year and want to reiterate those views.

　　"Although presently this effort is only confined to tobacco products, we see this as a systemic threat to rules which intellectual property and the trading system are dependent upon.

　　"We hope the New Zealand government will consider the concerns we have raised for the possible impact on New Zealand exports, such as dairy and wine, should other governments feel emboldened to take similar measures."

　　The government announced on Tuesday it would introduce legislation this year to enforce plain packaging.

　　It is taking a cautious approach, and before the measure is implemented it will watch developments in Australia.

　　Plain packaging was introduced in Australia in December and the big tobacco companies lost a lawsuit challenging it. Enditem