27 MEPs have voiced their 'concerns' about the government's plain packaging proposals in a letter to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
According to the Irish Examiner, all the MEPs are members of the European People’s Party coalition, which Fine Gael is also aligned to, with 13 understood to be from Germany. The rest of the MEPs are from Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and Austria.
According to the paper, the MEPs warn that the legislation “open the door to illicit trade, including counterfeit products as well as restrict fair competition”.
They said the plans to introduce plain packaging would undermine international trademark agreements, and "result in a loss of investment and jobs”. They added that the plans would “violate international agreements" and "set a dangerous precedent for other industries and products”.
The paper also noted that the Munich-based Taxpayers Association of Europe has written to the Irish government, saying that the proposals could “bear numerous threats to the Irish economy”.
