The debate on plain packaging for tobacco products is a vexed one. This year’s theme for the World No Tobacco Day is “Get Ready for Plain Packaging.” The U.K. and France have followed in the footsteps of Australia in requiring all logos, colours and trademarks be removed from cigarettes packs.

Back in February, Malaysia’s health ministry said it was considering gradually introducing a plain packaging policy, but the news was met with strong resistance, including from our guest, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of the Institute of Democratic and Economic Affairs, or IDEAS, which is part of an International Coalition Against Plain Packaging. Wan Saiful explains why plain packaging causes more harm than good.

Our second episode on this issue was "The Case For Plain Packaging - Public Health", and we spoke to Dr. Saunthari Somasundaram, President of the National Cancer Society about her views on the issue. Find the podcase of the other episode at http://bit.ly/299Hjaa.

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Tags:  IP Rights,  Intellectual Property,  Public Health,  Tobacco Control,  Plain Packaging,  WHO,  World Health Organization,  IPR,  Cigarettes,  Big Tobacco,  smoking