Mark Metherell Health Correspondent
May 31, 2012
The Age
AT LEAST one tobacco company has moved to frustrate the Gillard government’s plain packaging laws by distributing metal cigarette packets for sale.
Peter Stuyvesant-branded metal packets are available for sale ahead of regulations which will outlaw the sale of packets bearing any brand or logo.
Health Minister Tanya Plibersek warned retailers not to get burnt by stocking metal cigarette tins, claiming they would not comply with the plain packaging regulations, due to take effect in December, and would become illegal to sell.The government is also about to introduce draconian penalties against tobacco smugglers, following industry claims that plain packaging would cause an influx of black market tobacco.
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon will today announce jail terms of up to 10 years for smuggling tobacco as part of tougher customs laws aimed at black market tobacco traders.
Current penalties range from two to five times the amount of duty evaded.
Ms Roxon downplayed suggestions the tougher penalties are to counter a potential surge in black market tobacco, which the industry has predicted in the wake of the taxes and packs imposed on legal suppliers. Ms Roxon said customs continued to successfully detect a ”relatively small number of consignments” of illegally imported tobacco..”These new penalties will send a clear message to smugglers,” Ms Roxon said.
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