Actas - Consejo de los ADPIC - Ver detalles de la intervención/declaración

Ambassador Alfredo Suescum (Panama)
17.3 Announcement of 18 September by the Government of Ireland regarding the legislative programme for the autumn session 2013 which includes generic packaging of tobacco products under Section C
437. As previously stressed, both in this Council and in other fora, public health and tobacco control are topics of particular interest to Norway. In our view, it is within the rights of each WTO Member to adopt measures which are necessary to protect public health, as long as the measures chosen are consistent with WTO agreements. 438. Plain packaging of tobacco products is a recommended measure under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It is Norway's firm opinion that the Framework Convention and the relevant WTO agreements are mutually supportive, and that it is possible to implement measures intended to regulate the packaging of tobacco products in line with both sets of binding obligations. 439. Therefore, Norway wants to signal support to Ireland concerning its right to introduce this kind of measure, in consistency with its WTO obligations, to fulfill its obligations under the Framework Convention in order to protect public health.
The Council took note of the statements made.
17.5. The Chairman said that the delegation of the Dominican Republic wished to make a statement under "Other Business" concerning the announcement of 18 September by the Government of Ireland regarding the legislative programme for the autumn session 2013 which included generic packaging of tobacco products under Section C.

17.6. The representatives of the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Uruguay and China took the floor. The statements will be reproduced in an addendum to the present record.

17.7. The Chairman recalled that delegations should not enter into substantive debates under "Other Business" and avoid lengthy statements. He urged delegations to bear in mind the underlying rationale in this regard.

17.8. The Council took note of the statements made.

IP/C/M/74, IP/C/M/74/Add.1