INTA Statement on World Trade Organization Ruling on Australia’s Plain Packaging Law

Statement from Etienne Sanz de Acedo, CEO of the International Trademark Association, in response to the June 28, 2018 report by the World Trade Organization on Australia’s plain packaging law:

The International Trademark Association (INTA) is extremely disappointed with the ruling issued June 28, 2018 by the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement panel that upholds Australia’s law requiring tobacco products be sold in plain packages.  

While plain packaging was first related to a single product in a single country—tobacco in Australia, there has been a notable increase in regulations and legislation since to restrict brand use, including plain and standardized packaging, on various products in multiple countries. 

INTA has maintained that governments must take a well-informed and balanced approach in addressing this issue, and consider in addition to health and safety concerns a broad range of public policy matters, including the contribution of intellectual property to economic growth. 

Given the importance of this issue to brand owners, trademark professionals, and society at large, the Association is studying the WTO report in-depth to determine next steps.

About the International Trademark Association (INTA)

The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include more than 7,200 trademark owners, professionals, and academics from 191 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and representatives in Geneva and New Delhi. For more information, please visit www.inta.org.