World Trade Org. headquarters.
Santo Domingo.- A complaint has been filed at the World Trade Organization by Dominican Republic against Australia's tobacco packaging laws, the WTO said in a statement on Wednesday quoted be Reuters.
Reuters said diplomats previously said the Dominican Republic had warned that it would file the complaint, “which follows similar WTO suits brought by Ukraine and Honduras.”
The three complaints, trade diplomats told the cable service, are expected to be bundled together before being taken to the adjudication stage at the WTO.
UPDATE
From “Service de presse" (infoLS@docmedia.ch)
The Dominican Republic requests WTO consultations with Australia concerning plain packaging for tobacco products
Geneva, July 18th 2012 - The Dominican Republic today requested formal consultations with Australia under the dispute settlement procedures of the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) in response to the Australian government’s plain packaging laws for tobacco products.
Australia will require all tobacco products to be sold in plain packaging by 1st December 2012. Packaging will become a standardized green brown colour without logos or other design features, a move that will prevent products, in particular premium products such as Dominican cigars, from using their well-known trademarks and geographical indications.
Written by: zooma, 18 Jul 2012 9:21 AM
From: United States
Give us the rest of the story. What are the complaints ? You, know: who, what, when, where, and how !!!!!
Thanks for placing the update, now the release makes more sense.
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
Anything that stops people from smoking is a good idea ,,but I am doubtful if this action will be as good as seeing the pictures of the lungs of smokers
From: Dominican Republic
Fat chance the DR will have any impact.
You want to sell your cancer sticks in Australia, then you will follow Australian rules not Domincan rules.
From: United States, I dont even live inside a house , I haunt one!
I wonder what our resident australian blowhard, roy stone has to say about this.
Written by: generoso, 18 Jul 2012 11:37 AM
From: Dominican Republic, United States
Roy Stone has not been heard of in weeks, maybe his Dominican doctor wife, performed surgery on what's left of his brain, already damaged by loud rock music, and voo doo curses, lol.
Written by: josean, 18 Jul 2012 11:55 AM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
Roy is good man, and I will not have anyone speak ill of the Aussie Nut!
Written by: vacanos, 18 Jul 2012 12:10 PM
From: United States, An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
Josie your endorsement of anyone here is as good as Michael Moore. You just made it worst for the Aussie. :)
Written by: josean, 18 Jul 2012 12:51 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
"DR can not be judged by Australian standards ."
Or ANY Standards for that matter!
From: United States
There is big money in premium tobacco and the DR is one of the main exporters.
Might just be good publicity for the DR in Australia, the next untapped tourist market.
Written by: anthonyC, 18 Jul 2012 2:04 PM
From: United States
Freedom of speech and expression is slowly being eroded by "Good Intentions"
Australia is one of the biggest offenders of late
From: United States, Bay Area, CA - (Dei sitio)
"Australia will require all tobacco products to be sold in plain packaging by 1st December 2012. Packaging will become a standardized green brown colour without logos or other design features, a move that will prevent products, in particular premium products such as Dominican cigars".
Well, the dominican tobacco manufacturers can stil apply a label on the final product and add some key "limited" information on the green/brown primary packaging to indicate the product origin and product manufacturer. There is always a work around for every regulation...Ask medical device manufacturers how they do it.
From: United States
says the Moron of Miami
Written by: anthonyC, 18 Jul 2012 2:04 PM
From: United States
Freedom of speech and expression is slowly being eroded by "Good Intentions"
Australia is one of the biggest offenders of late
freedom of speech? you want to trade , you abide by the buyer spec sheet. they want it packed in styrofoam, you do it, or go sell it elsewhere. that is their freedom of speech.
Written by: RoyStone, 18 Jul 2012 8:25 PM
From: Australia
Sorry, guys, I have been "missing in action" - just lack of internet connectivity.
I don't know the details of the plain packaging legislation, but I doubt they will drop the gory photos of cancerous lungs, throats, etc. that are currently on Australian cigarette packets. I also doubt the standard requirement for packaging of consumer goods to show the country of origin, will be dropped. The whole idea is to reduce the attractiveness of cigarette packaging. Morons who still want to smoke can still buy their poison, however there will no longer be the excuse of these sickness-exploiting companies to promote this disgusting habit in the guise of "brand promotion and recognition".
The Dominican government should focus on getting farmers to grow something worthwhile instead of attacking the Australian government. Learn from the Aussies and do something about Dominican drug addiction and health for a change!
From: Dominican Republic
The Australian health minister, Cancer Council and with other groups have made tobacco companies now use a basic labeling with limited colors and fonts, the big tobacco companies lost in the high court and couldn't over turn it... I see no hope that the DR will get any where if Phillip Morris and others couldn't...
So as others have said if you want to sell to somewhere you have to abide by their laws and regulation...
Written by: RoyStone, 18 Jul 2012 8:31 PM
From: Australia
Absolutely, Stillhere & Dready
It seems those living in narco-keltocracies like the Dominican Republic don't understand how things work in a true democracy like Australia.
Written by: josean, 18 Jul 2012 10:55 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016
"It seems those living in narco-keltocracies like the Dominican Republic don't understand how things work in a true democracy like Australia.'
Roy, that's so josean-esque of you!
Written by: RoyStone, 19 Jul 2012 3:43 AM
From: Australia
Hey Ron,
"SANTO DOMINGO. - The Industry and Commerce Ministry posted the fuel prices for the week from July 14 to 20, when premium gasoline will cost RD$224.00, or RD$2.10 more per gallon and regular gasoline will cost RD$207.10 for an increase of RD$2.00."
Written by: RoyStone, 19 Jul 2012 7:26 AM
From: Australia
Josean, please note:
"Packaging will become a standardized green brown colour"
1) no mention of purple.
2) British / Australian spelling of "coloUr'.
From: Canada
Roy:
Glad to see you're back. Help me out here my friend. What is the "aim" of this homogenous packaging? I mean I read what the article said, but why is it desireable to do so from a marketing and/or health point of view, (as the Australian gov't see it). I feel foolish asking this. It's like I'm staring at a forest and can't see a single tree. Am I? Or is this purely a simple issue of curbing marketing and, therefore, brand recognition?
Cheers M8... & welcome back.
From: United States
welcome back, Roy. glad to hear from you again.
Written by: RoyStone, 19 Jul 2012 3:26 PM
From: Australia
Thanks, MrB & Dready,
I feel like the prodigal son gorging himself on fatted calf!
Written by: RoyStone, 19 Jul 2012 3:44 PM
From: Australia
MrB,
for years various Australian pro-health pressure-groups have gradually almost obliterated cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Product packaging is an important component of point-of-sale promotion. Remember Benson & Hedges pseudo-gold packaging and the pretentious slogan "whenever only the best will do, and isn't that all the time?" Current packaging in Australia is almost covered in health warnings and gory photos. Smoking rates in Australia have reduced greatly in most sectors. This new plain-packaging legislation is hopefully just one more nail in the coughin' coffin.
The sign above the cigarette-lighter in my car reads "smokers please suicide elsewhere"
From: Canada
Thanks Roy,
I thought so. Here in Canada - in Ontario at least - we're doing exactly the same thing, as brand recognition is a deadly form of marketing in this case. Cigarette packs have the very same said gross photos on them and a warning occupies fully half the outer pack surfaces. Smoking is banned in public places in the majority of cities, advertising is banned, and the retail racks are now obliterated by a solid black cover so they cannot even be seen unless asked for. In a marketing sense, we've really killed "Joe Camel" - as it were. I guess we all need to be protected from ourselves. LOL.
But, it seems to be working. Yesterday I was watching an "I Love Lucy" re-run and found it very peculiar to see Ricky and Lucy sparking up various times within each episode.
The backswing however is that Big Tobacco is a Hydra. Some of the largest cessation/prevention programs are now run by these sinister bastards like Philip Morris. More than one head needs to be cut.
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Thanks for placing the update, now the release makes more sense.
You want to sell your cancer sticks in Australia, then you will follow Australian rules not Domincan rules.
Roy is good man, and I will not have anyone speak ill of the Aussie Nut!
Josie your endorsement of anyone here is as good as Michael Moore. You just made it worst for the Aussie. :)
"DR can not be judged by Australian standards ."
Or ANY Standards for that matter!
Might just be good publicity for the DR in Australia, the next untapped tourist market.
Freedom of speech and expression is slowly being eroded by "Good Intentions"
Australia is one of the biggest offenders of late
Well, the dominican tobacco manufacturers can stil apply a label on the final product and add some key "limited" information on the green/brown primary packaging to indicate the product origin and product manufacturer. There is always a work around for every regulation...Ask medical device manufacturers how they do it.
Written by: anthonyC, 18 Jul 2012 2:04 PM
From: United States
Freedom of speech and expression is slowly being eroded by "Good Intentions"
Australia is one of the biggest offenders of late
freedom of speech? you want to trade , you abide by the buyer spec sheet. they want it packed in styrofoam, you do it, or go sell it elsewhere. that is their freedom of speech.
I don't know the details of the plain packaging legislation, but I doubt they will drop the gory photos of cancerous lungs, throats, etc. that are currently on Australian cigarette packets. I also doubt the standard requirement for packaging of consumer goods to show the country of origin, will be dropped. The whole idea is to reduce the attractiveness of cigarette packaging. Morons who still want to smoke can still buy their poison, however there will no longer be the excuse of these sickness-exploiting companies to promote this disgusting habit in the guise of "brand promotion and recognition".
The Dominican government should focus on getting farmers to grow something worthwhile instead of attacking the Australian government. Learn from the Aussies and do something about Dominican drug addiction and health for a change!
The Australian health minister, Cancer Council and with other groups have made tobacco companies now use a basic labeling with limited colors and fonts, the big tobacco companies lost in the high court and couldn't over turn it... I see no hope that the DR will get any where if Phillip Morris and others couldn't...
So as others have said if you want to sell to somewhere you have to abide by their laws and regulation...
It seems those living in narco-keltocracies like the Dominican Republic don't understand how things work in a true democracy like Australia.
"It seems those living in narco-keltocracies like the Dominican Republic don't understand how things work in a true democracy like Australia.'
Roy, that's so josean-esque of you!
"SANTO DOMINGO. - The Industry and Commerce Ministry posted the fuel prices for the week from July 14 to 20, when premium gasoline will cost RD$224.00, or RD$2.10 more per gallon and regular gasoline will cost RD$207.10 for an increase of RD$2.00."
"Packaging will become a standardized green brown colour"
1) no mention of purple.
2) British / Australian spelling of "coloUr'.
Roy:
Glad to see you're back. Help me out here my friend. What is the "aim" of this homogenous packaging? I mean I read what the article said, but why is it desireable to do so from a marketing and/or health point of view, (as the Australian gov't see it). I feel foolish asking this. It's like I'm staring at a forest and can't see a single tree. Am I? Or is this purely a simple issue of curbing marketing and, therefore, brand recognition?
Cheers M8... & welcome back.
I feel like the prodigal son gorging himself on fatted calf!
for years various Australian pro-health pressure-groups have gradually almost obliterated cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Product packaging is an important component of point-of-sale promotion. Remember Benson & Hedges pseudo-gold packaging and the pretentious slogan "whenever only the best will do, and isn't that all the time?" Current packaging in Australia is almost covered in health warnings and gory photos. Smoking rates in Australia have reduced greatly in most sectors. This new plain-packaging legislation is hopefully just one more nail in the coughin' coffin.
The sign above the cigarette-lighter in my car reads "smokers please suicide elsewhere"
Thanks Roy,
I thought so. Here in Canada - in Ontario at least - we're doing exactly the same thing, as brand recognition is a deadly form of marketing in this case. Cigarette packs have the very same said gross photos on them and a warning occupies fully half the outer pack surfaces. Smoking is banned in public places in the majority of cities, advertising is banned, and the retail racks are now obliterated by a solid black cover so they cannot even be seen unless asked for. In a marketing sense, we've really killed "Joe Camel" - as it were. I guess we all need to be protected from ourselves. LOL.
But, it seems to be working. Yesterday I was watching an "I Love Lucy" re-run and found it very peculiar to see Ricky and Lucy sparking up various times within each episode.
The backswing however is that Big Tobacco is a Hydra. Some of the largest cessation/prevention programs are now run by these sinister bastards like Philip Morris. More than one head needs to be cut.