Plain packaging cigarettes could do more damage than good. Why did WHO ban media from its Tobacco Control meet?
On November 7, 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) conducted conference meeting in New Delhi, India. The agenda was to limit global tobacco use by devising new strategies like plain packaging of cigarettes. Oddly, all journalists were kicked out of the conference. Someone should question why a meeting, facilitated by taxpayers’ money and for the public, was held behind closed doors.
Challenging the WHO’s take on the matter, over 50 international organizations sent a letter denouncing plain packaging. It’s true that taking away rights of branding is a clear violation of intellectual property rights.
Along with WHO, many government authorities believe that packing cigarettes in plain boxes would bring down number of smokers. Not sure if it is lack of research or simple delusion, but it’s not going to work. Australia tried it back in 2012, and the experiment is yet to produce a positive result.
Plain packaging, instead of discouraging smokers, is encouraging criminals to establish illegal markets of tobacco products. Anyone can manufacture plain boxes of cigarettes and sell them in the black market. At least, registered manufacturers contribute to world economy by paying their taxes.
It is almost amusing how WHO, and the Australian, French, British, and Irish governments have failed to notice shocking drawbacks of this amateurish idea before implementing it.
WHO also wants authorities to raise taxes on tobacco products sold in public, believing higher costs would deter people from buying. Increasing taxes on cigarettes will not raise revenue or discourage smoking. Once taxes touch the prohibitive range under the Laffer Curve, “tax revenues would only fall with further tax increases.” This happens because people will start purchasing illicit tobacco to avoid paying the increased taxes, rather than stop purchasing tobacco altogether.
Raising voice against plain packaging laws is necessary in order to protect Intellectual Property (IP), which is vital to economies of every country. USA provides a clear example of this fact.
Take a look at the data released from a report by the Department of Commerce: Industries that were considered “IP-intensive” provided over 27.9 million jobs in USA in 2014. These industries also accounted for 38.2% (about $6.6 trillion) of the total American GDP. These giant numbers constitute just USA. IP plays an even greater role on a global scale. IP rights must be protected at all costs to ensure a strong global economy.
Perhaps government authorities and WHO should focus on launching effective awareness anti-smoking programmes instead of coming up with unethical laws.
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