烟草在线据澳大利亚联合新闻社报道编译　　新西兰最大的烟草制造商将被调查向其员工提供免费卷烟一事。

　　据《先驱报》周日（8月12日）报道，帝国烟草公司的业务负责人布伦丹·沃克（Brendan Walker）证实，在Petone工厂的中间休息时会向办公室工作人员和工人提供卷烟。

　　“这纯粹是为了研究，”他告诉报社记者。

　　“事实上，我们希望收到关于那些特定的生产运行的反馈和意见。”

　　无烟法律禁止烟草制造商免费或低价分发烟草产品。

　　然而，沃克先生说，他相信帝国烟草公司是在法律允许的范围内行事，因为员工可以选择是否测试产品。

　　“这完全取决于个人，他们是否将这看作是一种福利。”

　　他说，这些产品上面没有健康警告。

　　哈特谷地区公共健康无烟官员克里斯汀·弗利（Kristen Foley）说，下周（8.19-8.25）他将寻求与该公司老板讨论有关这些测试产品的问题。

　　上周（8.5-8.11），帝国烟草公司正式完成了对其Petone工厂进行的4500万新西兰元（3480万美元）的升级工作，该工厂向澳大利亚的出口将翻两番。

　　这家工厂每年将生产并向澳大利亚出口超过30亿支卷烟和700吨自卷烟。

　　大约250人在这家工厂工作。

　　工厂的升级遭到澳大利亚癌症理事会和新西兰癌症协会的批评。

Imperial Tobacco Admit Giving Staff Free Cigarettes 'For Research'

　　NEW Zealand's largest tobacco manufacturer will be investigated for giving free cigarettes to its staff.

　　Imperial Tobacco's commercial boss Brendan Walker confirmed cigarettes were available to office staff and workers during breaks at its Petone factory, the Herald on Sunday reports.

　　"It's purely for research," he told the newspaper.

　　"The fact of the matter is we're keen to receive the feedback and comments on those particular manufacturing runs."

　　Smokefree legislation bans manufacturers from distributing tobacco products free or at a reduced charge.

　　However, Mr Walker says he is confident Imperial Tobacco is acting within the law as employees could choose whether to test products.

　　"It's entirely up to an individual whether they see it as a perk or not."

　　He said there were no health warnings on the products.

　　Hutt Valley Regional Public Health smokefree officer Kristen Foley said he would seek discussions with the company bosses next week about the test products.

　　Last week Imperial Tobacco officially completed a $NZ45 million ($A34.80 million) upgrade to its Petone factory which will quadruple its exports to Australia.

　　More than three billion cigarettes and 700 tonnes of roll-your-own tobacco will be manufactured at the plant and exported to Australia each year.

　　About 250 people work at the factory.

　　The upgrade was criticised by the Cancer Council of Australia and the New Zealand Cancer Society. Enditem