393. The representative of Nigeria said that his delegation had referred the matter of Australia's plain packaging bill of 2011 to capital for consideration. As Nigeria had important manufacturing facilities in the tobacco sector that generated employment and provided revenue for the government, his delegation was trying to assess the impact that Australia's bill would have on the sector in Nigeria. It was his delegation's view that the proposed measures would be inconsistent with Australia's obligation under Articles 20 of the TRIPS Agreement and Article 10bis of the Paris Convention, as a ban on use of the logo on cigarette packages would make it difficult to distinguish one brand of cigarettes from another, thereby confusing the product purchaser. In view of the concerns raised in the Council today and on previous occasion, Nigeria wished to ask Australia to bring its proposed tobacco measures into consistency with the TRIPS Agreement.
