Dom. Rep. takes Aussie tobacco law to court, Reuters(Update)

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.