烟草在线据《管理知识产权》杂志报道编译　　新西兰因其计划推行烟草产品平装而正面临着世界贸易组织的攻击。

　　多米尼加共和国已经要求《关贸总协定知识产权协议》委员会的成员国在3月初举行的会议上，讨论新西兰的计划，以及这项计划对商标持有人的影响。

　　去年，世界贸易组织成员国的一个组织对澳大利亚的平装法律提出投诉。如今，澳大利亚在世界贸易组织面临着乌克兰、洪都拉斯和多米尼加共和国三个国家提起的三项法律诉讼。

　　新西兰的卫生部副部长Tariana Turia在上周（2.17-2.23）透露了推行平装法律的计划，但他说，这项法律要在世贸组织对澳大利亚平装法律提起的法律诉讼判决之后才会生效。她预测，从现在起，这还需要大约18个月的时间。

　　《关贸总协定知识产权协议》委员会将于3月5-6日举行会议。预计会议将选举巴拿马的Alfredo Suescum担任委员会新任主席，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