Australia Plain-Pack Tobacco Law May Spread to U.K., N.Z.

The U.K. and New Zealand are among countries more likely to ban logos from cigarette packages after Australia approved the world’s first uniform-packaging law, officials and health researchers said.

The Australian ruling gives New Zealand “a greater sense of security” during its consultation process on plain-packaging legislation, Tariana Turia, New Zealand’s associate minister of health, said yesterday after the ruling in Canberra. “This is more than just a victory for the Australian government, I think it is a global victory.”