parliament&39s health committee has given the green light to legislation to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes. after considering more than 15,000 submissions, the committee has reported back and recommended the plain packaging amendment bill be passed. only nz first opposes the bill, saying there is insufficient data to show plain packaging reduces smoking rates and other measures would be more effective. the big tobacco companies claim the branding ban is illegal and say it breaches new zealand&39s international trade agreements. plain packaging has been in force in australia since december 2012 and there have been a raft of challenges which will take years to settle. source httpnews.msn.co.nzarticle.aspxid8886707
