US politicians put pressure on Ireland over standardized packaging plans

The governor of the U.S. state of Virginia has written to the Irish prime minister, Enda Kenny, urging him to reject proposals to introduce standardized cigarette packaging, according to a story in The Irish Times.

In a letter last week, Gov. Bob McDonnell said there were other proven ways to regulate the industry that were based on “sound science”; ways that did not undermine “the great Irish business environment.”

The governor’s letter, which has been seen by The Irish Times, made the case that McDonnell and Kenny had a mutual interest in fortifying their economies.

It said the standardized packaging initiative might undermine Ireland’s reputation as a country in which intellectual property rights were fully protected.

Six weeks ago, four senior congressmen wrote to Ireland’s ambassador to the U.S., Anne Anderson, urging her government to scrap the proposal.

“We are increasingly concerned that the Irish parliament may mandate plain packaging of tobacco products,” they wrote.

“The U.S. and Ireland are friends and strong trading partners. We encourage your government to consider more effective ways to regulate tobacco that do not jeopardize intellectual property rights.”