The Australian Government Department of Health is undertaking a Post Implementation Review of Tobacco Plain Packaging, with a consultation period running from 16 February to 27 March 2015.
All interested members of the public are invited to have their say and submit a response to inform the Review.

Information collected will inform the analysis of the material impacts of the tobacco plain packaging measure on stakeholders and, where possible, quantify the costs and benefits of the measure.

The Department has engaged Siggins Miller Consultants Pty Ltd to conduct stakeholder consultations for the review and submissions can be made by visitingwww.sigginsmiller.com/plainpackaging

Jeff Rogut, CEO of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores, told C&I WEEK that – while AACS would in its normal manner of representation be making a submission on behalf of the industry – he would “encourage everybody, both retailers and suppliers, to have their voice heard, as this has been a major impost in terms of both cost and human resources for retailers”.

Mr Rogut confirmed that the AACS submission will be based on both AACS research and on feedback it has received from both retailers and suppliers. However, individual submissions are also important as “unless retailers and their partners have their voice heard it opens the door for this and future governments to put even more unnecessary regulation on this category which will affect honest tobacco retailers”.