February 21, 2013 The Age WELLINGTON: Powerful US business organisations have issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern” with the New Zealand 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…

John Durie February 21, 2013 The Australian AUSTRALIAN Competition and Consumer Commission chief Rod Sims has endorsed the concept of an industry code to govern supermarket supplier issues, provided the code is workable and real. In a lunchtime address to the CEDA conference in Sydney, Sims outlined his priorities for the year, starting with strong enforcement , the need for the ACCC to be proactive, to get its big calls right and to be practical. “This means grounding our decisions in real-world understanding, gained in part through detailed discussion with the parties and those familiar with the industry and the circumstances,” he noted. The speech came after the Federal Government started the process to reappoint Michael Schaper as deputy commissioner of the ACCC and Sarah Court as commissioner, and Cristina Cifuentes as associate commissioner. Cifuentes is the newcomer, replacing longtime commissioner and rugby tragic Ed Willet. Assuming she is endorsed…

CSD Staff Feb 21, 2013 Invites Oregon-area residents to sample eats and drinks this week at participating stores. Tasting is believing. That’s why 7-Eleven, Inc is dedicating a day for Oregon-area residents to see what’s cooking, brewing, baking and warming at its stores on Fabulous Fresh Foods Friday, (FFFF), this Friday, Feb. 22. Add two more “Fs” to that for “first” and “free.” This Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., selected 7-Eleven stores will serve free samples of prepared foods like its Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage, Blueberry Pancake Sausage Roller, Mini Donuts, Turkey and Havarti Sandwiches, hot Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza, Chicken Chipotle Mini Tacos, and hot beverages like 7-Eleven’s new Brazilian Dark Roast coffee and Skinny Salted Caramel Mocha Cappuccino. Seven Portland stores are participating in the sampling event as well as select 7-Eleven stores in Albany, Aloha, Beaverton, Coos Bay, Medford, Pasco, Redmond, Spokane, Spokane Valley, Springfield, Tigard,…

JOHN ROLFE February 22, 2013 News Limited Network THE competition regulator has warned the major supermarket chains it plans to tear up their 8c-a-litre shopper docket petrol discounts. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims says if Woolworths and Coles want to help shoppers with lower prices, they should stick to groceries instead of subsidising fuel. Answering questions from News Ltd, Mr Sims said the chains were affecting the “competitive process”. In 2007, an ACCC petrol inquiry concluded shopper dockets benefited consumers and promoted competition, but at the time, the discounts were not as sizeable or as sustained. Late last year the News Ltd revealed the ACCC was examining Coles’ decision to extend its 8c-a-litre petrol discount until April – a move Woolworths matched in January. Yesterday, Mr Sims said: “It’s only now that you’ve got shopper dockets being offered for 8c over a five-month period. The size and…

Feb 14, 2013 CSNews CORONA, Calif. — Changes are coming to Monster energy drink cans. Monster Beverage Corp. is changing the labeling on its cans so that its energy drinks will no longer be considered dietary supplements, a move that’s in line with the federal guidelines that drinks must follow. Citing a report in Beverage Digest, the cans will now list “Nutrition Facts” instead of “Supplement Facts.” They will also now feature the caffeine content. The move comes as the Food and Drug Administration begins to take a closer look at energy drinks after several reported deaths linked to the products, as CSNews Online previously reported. The change also sheds light on the confusion consumers may encounter when it comes to checking the labels on energy drinks. Currently, companies have the choice to categorize their products as either dietary supplements or traditional drinks, the news agency reported. For example, Monster…