Australian Court Upholds Cigarette Packaging Laws

 Australia's highest court has ruled that new laws requiring cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging without company logos do not violate the country's constitution.

The court on Wednesday ruled against four tobacco companies that challenged the law, saying the measure violated their intellectual property rights.

The companies include British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Tobacco and Philip Morris. They argue the new law will also make it easier to counterfeit¹ cigarettes.

Beginning in December, cigarettes in Australia will be sold in uniform, olive green packages with graphic² health warnings. 

The government hopes the changes will help reduce the number of smokers³ in Australia, where smoking-related illnesses kill about 15,000 people each year.

Australian Attorney General Nicolas Roxon praised the ruling, saying it is a "watershed⁴ moment for tobacco control around the world."

Australia is facing a potential challenge at the World Trade Organization over the new law.  Ukraine, Honduras and the Dominican Republic have argued the plain packaging requirements will unfairly restrict trade.

1 counterfeit   

vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的

参考例句：

• It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
• The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

2 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

3 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。

4 watershed   

n.转折点，分水岭，分界线

参考例句：

• Our marriage was at a watershed.我们的婚姻到了一个转折关头。
• It forms the watershed between the two rivers.它成了两条河流的分水岭。