烟草在线据《澳大利亚人报》报道编译　　位高权重的美国商业机构发表了一项联合声明，表示“高度重视”政府对烟草产品引入平装的决定。

　　他们说这将违反新西兰的国际贸易义务，促进非法贸易和假冒产品泛滥。

　　“当然我们尊重新西兰管理公共利益的权利，但是这种做法违背了监管的最佳实践规则，”该组织称。

　　“最重要的是，没有令人信服的证据表明，它会促进公共利益。”

　　该组织包括美国商会、美国全国制造商协会、美国贸易突发事件委员会、美国国际贸易委员会、全国对外贸易理事会、跨大西洋贸易委员会和美国东盟商务理事会。

　　他们说，去年他们向政府提交了一份意见书，欲重申那些观点。

　　“尽管目前这种努力只局限于烟草产品，但是我们认为这是对知识产权和所依赖的交易系统的规则的一个系统性威胁。”

　　“我们希望新西兰政府将考虑，如果其他政府也有胆量采取类似措施，我们提出的对新西兰出口的可能影响，比如对乳制品和酒。”

　　政府于2月19日周二宣布它将在今年推出立法，强制实施平装。

　　它态度谨慎，在措施实施之前，它将关注澳大利亚的事态发展。

　　平装是在12月引入澳大利亚的，这些大烟草公司已经输掉了针对平装的官司。

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