PM confident in plain cigarette packaging

The Prime Minister's confident the Government's clear to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes if it chooses to do so.

Six US business lobby groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce, argue the move will breach intellectual property rights and see New Zealand break a number of its international obligations.

But John Key says advice from his Trade Minister is that there's nothing in our current trade agreements that will preclude the use of plain packaging.

"Certainly in terms of the United States, which is where there's a case currently between Australia as I'm sure you're all aware. We don't have an FTA (free trade agreement) with the United States so I haven't had any advice that would support the view that we can't undertake plain packaging."

Mr Key says the US business groups are representing the views of cigarette manufacturers but whether they're correct is another matter.

Photo: NZ Herald