From: Press Release
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There is no reliable evidence that plain packaging will work and these measures have failed to deliver any of the anticipated benefits in Australia, the only country that has fully implemented plain packaging for any substantial length of time. Instead the policy has led to unintended consequences that are adversely impacting the public, businesses and government. There is no reason to believe that the result would be any different in Canada, especially given the nature and magnitude of its existing illicit tobacco product problems.
Through the standardization measures, Health Canada will provide a template for organized crime to flood the Canadian market with counterfeit products – and consumers, retailers and law enforcement will have no ability to distinguish legal from illegal products.
