Plain packaging could put iconic Irish exports at risk, says CPMA

Packaging experts fear that plain packaging could extend into other sectors such as alcohol 'sooner than expected'

New alliance of packaging experts expresses concern over Indonesian threat to ban alcohol branding

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Plain packaging may put iconic Irish exports at risk as key trading partners seek retaliation over the unproven measure, senior industry figures have warned.

A new alliance of packaging experts, the Consumer Packaging Manufacturers Alliance (CPMA) has expressed alarm that plain packaging could soon spread to alcohol and other sectors as a global trade dispute over the plain packaging of tobacco products risks spinning out of control.

Indonesia, a major cigarette producer, has threatened to ban alcohol branding in retaliation for governments around the world introducing plain packaging of cigarettes.

Mike Ridgway, spokesman for a number of packaging manufacturers, said: "Indonesia represents a market of nearly 250m consumers and if they retaliate to plain pack cigarettes by adopting branding bans for alcohol it would affect all alcohol products sold to Indonesia from anywhere in the world. Irish whiskey would be among those items to drop its branding and packaging for grotesque graphic health warnings," he noted, adding that the potential move that could put hundreds of retail jobs in jeopardy.

Just last week more than 400 Dublin retailers signed petitions urging the government to abandon its plans to introduce plain packaging for cigarette packs.

Ridgway said Australia’s black market trade has increased since plain packaging was introduced there in December 2012. Meanwhile legitimate retailers’ takings in Australia have been hit by €250m, with no evidence that smoking rates have dropped.

CPMA urged the Irish government to launch a new consultation on plain packaging and based on the latest evidence, "to abandon this disastrous policy with widespread unknown consequences".

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