By 3 News online staff
The Ministry of Health has received a number of complaints regarding the "agree/disagree" television advertisements paid for by British American Tobacco New Zealand (BATNZ).
The adverts, which directs viewers to a website also paid for by BATNZ, say although the company agrees that cigarettes are harmful, they shouldn't have to come in plain packaging because that would breach intellectual property rights.
One in particular implies that if cigarettes are forced to be sold in plain packaging, alcohol will be next.
The ministry has received 14 complaints about the ads, claiming they breach the tobacco advertising ban, reports Fairfax NZ.
One complainant said the ads were a "an attack on the sovereignty of political discourse in New Zealand", but the ministry says they don't break any laws.
Ministry of Health legal adviser Phil Knipe says there is "insufficient grounds to support enforcement action at this time". Chief executive of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), Hilary Souter, says whether the ads are advertising tobacco or not is "outside our mandate".
The ASA has also dismissed complaints the ads were misleading and confusing facts with opinion.
The Government has stated its aim is to have a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025.
3 News
source: newshub archive
