Plain packaging of tobacco products in Australia is playing into the hands of criminals, a recent report claims.
Illicit trade in tobacco products in Australia has increased from 11.8 percent of total consumption in 2012 to 13.3 percent the report by KPMG reveals, echoing the concerns of anti-plain packaging campaigners who up until now, have been dismissed as simply lobbying for the tobacco industry.
KPMG says the fraud represents over $AU1 billion in lost revenue for the Australian government, a situation that the UK might find itself in if plain packaging for tobacco products is introduced here.
“[There has been] No real effect on smoking rates, but an increase in [the] black market tobacco,” Imperial Tobacco spokesperson Brendan Walker said.
A new study however does show that introduction of plain packaging appears to have sparked a quick and dramatic increase in people wanting to quit smoking.
Professor Jane Young from the University of Sydney says calls to the country’s Quitline increased by 78 percent in the four weeks after the move in October 2012, before starting to taper off.
“Our study demonstrates real behaviour change following the introduction of plain packaging,” she said.
The response was more immediate and lasted longer than the 2006 introduction of graphic health warnings, Ms Young said.
The study however, has been criticised as it simply measured the intent to stop smoking, rather than displaying the number of people who actually stopped after calling Quitline.
Tobacco firms have stated that they have not seen any decline in volumes of tobacco products manufactured for and sold in Australia.
The Australian Association for Convenience Stores showed the volume of tobacco sold in their members’ outlets has not been impacted.
A recent study published by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) found there is as yet no evidence that the change to plain packaging has led people to quit.
Britain was initially tipped to follow suit with Australia, though Prime Minister David Cameron seemed to back away from plain packaging proposals in July last year. In November however, he seems to imply that he would be open to the suggestion again. Opposition leader Ed Miliband said: “The government should have introduced plain packaging earlier this year – we want them to act swiftly, we want them to act now. We don’t need another review.”
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