Ash calls for cigarettes to be excluded from FTAs

An anti-smoking group is calling for tobacco to be excluded from free trade agreements (FTAs).

Former Labour MP Mark Peck, now spokesman for Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), told the Parliament' defence and trade committee, considering the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Bill, that tobacco was a dangerous product and should be excluded.

"Tobacco no longer can be considered as a normal product, it is not a normal product and should be considered along the same lines as any of the other deadly and dangerous products that trade rules can and do prohibit," he said.

He accepted the bill could not change the agreement but said its commentary could be used to raise the issue.

Ash was concerned that by including tobacco in FTAs exporting countries could later use trade rules to complain, for instance, against high taxes on tobacco.

"We wouldn't want to be in a position where at some point in the future the tobacco industry could say we actually think New Zealand has got some instruments which are an impediment to trade and hold us to account in other forum.

"It is a danger that we see not just for New Zealand but other jurisdictions as well."

Labour MP Pete Hodgson said the committee had sought officials' advice on the idea.

"This agreement when examined is not actually going to do the health of New Zealanders any great harm," he said.

Mr Hodgson said the committee accepted tobacco caused harm. Harmful products, for example munitions, were normally government by international framework agreements.

The question was about whether progress should be promoted through the World Health Organisation convention on tobacco control or ordinary FTAs.

The danger with changing FTAs is New Zealand could end up banning the import of tobacco.

- NZPA