煙草在線據《管理知識產權》雜志報道編譯　　新西蘭因其計劃推行煙草產品平裝而正面臨著世界貿易組織的攻擊。

　　多米尼加共和國已經要求《關貿總協定知識產權協議》委員會的成員國在3月初舉行的會議上，討論新西蘭的計劃，以及這項計劃對商標持有人的影響。

　　去年，世界貿易組織成員國的一個組織對澳大利亞的平裝法律提出投訴。如今，澳大利亞在世界貿易組織面臨著烏克蘭、洪都拉斯和多米尼加共和國三個國家提起的三項法律訴訟。

　　新西蘭的衛生部副部長Tariana Turia在上周（2.17-2.23）透露了推行平裝法律的計劃，但他說，這項法律要在世貿組織對澳大利亞平裝法律提起的法律訴訟判決之后才會生效。她預測，從現在起，這還需要大約18個月的時間。

　　《關貿總協定知識產權協議》委員會將于3月5-6日舉行會議。預計會議將選舉巴拿馬的Alfredo Suescum擔任委員會新任主席，接替巴拉圭的大使Federico A González。

New Zealand's Tobacco Plans Face WTO Attack

　　New Zealand is facing an early attack at the WTO over its plans to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.

　　The Dominican Republic has requested that members of the TRIPs Council discuss the country's plans and its implications for trade mark owners at its meeting in early March.

　　Last year a group of WTO members complained about Australia's plain packaging laws. It now faces three legal challenges at the trade body brought by Ukraine, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

　　Last week New Zealand's associate Health Minister Tariana Turia revealed plans to introduce plain packaging legislation, but said that the legislation would only come into effect once challenges to Australia's plain packaging legislation before the WTO are decided. She predicted that would take about 18 months from now.

　　The TRIPs Council will meet on March 5-6. A new chair, Alfredo Suescum of Panama, is expected to be chosen to take over fromAmbassador Federico A González of Paraguay. Enditem