WT/DS458/1, G/L/1026  
IP/D/33, G/TBT/D/43  
 
7 May 2013  
(13-2417)  Page: 1/3  
  Original: English  
 
 AUSTRALIA – CERTAIN MEASURES CONCERNING TRADEMARKS, 
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS AND OTHER PLAIN PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS 
APPLICABLE TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND PACKAGING 
REQUEST FOR CONSULTATIONS BY CUBA 
The following communication, dated 3 May 2013, from the delegation of Cuba to the 
delegation of Australia and to the Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in 
accordance with Article 4.4 of the DSU. 
 
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 The Republic of Cuba hereby requests cons ultations with the Government of Australia 
pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of 
Disputes, Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ("GAT T 1994"), 
Article 64.1 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
("TRIPS Agreement'), and Article 14.1 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 
("TBT Agreement"). 
 A. MEASURES AT ISSUE  
The measures at issue are the following: 
 
 The Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011, Act No. 148 of 2011, "An Act to discourage the 
use of tobacco products, and for related purposes"; 
 The Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations 2011 (Select Legislative Instrument 2011, No  
263), as amended by the Tobacco Plain Pack aging Amendment Regulation 2012 (No. 1) 
(Select Legislative Instrument 2012, No. 29) ("the Regulations"); 
 The Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Act 2011. Act No. 149 of 2011, 
"An Act to amend the Trade Marks Act 1995, and for related purposes"; and  
 Any related measures adopted by Australi a, including measures that implement, 
complement or add to these laws and regulations, as well as any measures that amend 
or replace these laws and regulations. 
Cuba will refer to these measures as the "Plain Packaging Measures". 
 
The Plain Packaging Measures regulate the appear ance and form of retail packaging used in 
connection with sales of cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco products. They also regulate the 
appearance and form of the tobacco products themselves. 
  With respect to the retail packaging of tobacco products, the Plain Packaging Measures:  WT/DS458/1 • G/L/1026 • IP/D/33 • G/TBT/D/43 
 
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  (i) prohibit the display of signs and information other than (1) a brand, business or 
company name, (2) a variant name and (3) the basic information specified in Division 2.3 of the Regulations
1; 
 
(ii) prescribe that brand, business, company and variant names must be displayed in a 
uniform typeface, font, size, case, colour and placement; 
 
(iii) mandate the use of uniform colours for outer surfaces and inner linings as well as the 
use of a matt finish; 
 
(iv) constrain the dimensions and forms that packaging (such as cigar tubes, primary 
packaging for cigars, cigarette packs and cigarette cartons) may assume; and 
 
(v) regulate the use of wrappers, inserts and onserts. 
 
With respect to the appearance and form of  cigar bands and cigars, the Plain Packaging 
Measures: 
 
(i) prohibit the display of signs and information on cigar bands other than: (1) a brand, 
business or company name, (2) a variant name, (3) country of origin information and (4) an alphanumeric code. 
 
(ii) prescribe that signs and information must be displayed on cigar bands in a uniform 
typeface, font, size, case, colour and placement; 
 
(iii) mandate the use of a uniform colour for cigar bands (Pantone 448C); and 
 
(iv) require the use of a single cigar band. 
 
With respect to the appearance and form of  cigarettes, the Plain Packaging Measures: 
 
(i) prohibit the display of signs and information other than an alphanumeric code; 
 
(ii) provide that paper casings must be white, or white with an imitation cork tip; and 
 
 (iii) provide that filter tips must be white.  
B. LEGAL BASIS OF THE COMPLAINT 
 
Australia's Plain Packaging Measures appear to be inconsistent with its obligations under the 
following provisions of the TRIPS Agreem ent, the TBT Agreement and the GATT 1994: 
 
 Article 20 of the TRIPS Agreement, because Australia un justifiably encumbers the use of 
trademarks for tobacco products in the course of trade through special requirements. In 
particular, Australia mandates: (i) that trademarks relating to tobacco prod ucts be used 
in a specia l form, and (ii) that trademarks relating to tobacco products be used in a 
manner which is detrimental to their capability to distinguish tobacco products of one 
undertaking from tobacco products of other undertakings. 
 Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement, because Australia imposes technical regulations that 
create unnecessary obstacles to trade and ar e more trade-restrictive than necessary to 
fulfil a legitimate ob jective taking into account the risks that non-fulfilment would create. 
                                               
1 These are (i) origin marks as provided for in Regulati on 2.3.2 of the Regulation s, (ii) calibration marks 
as provided for in Regulations 2.3.3 and 2.3.1(3) of the Regulations, (iii) measurement mark and trade description as provided for in Regulation 2.3.4 of the Regu lations, (iv) bar code as provided for in 
Regulation 2.3.5 of the Regulations, (v) fire risk st atement as provided for in Regulation 2.3.6 of the 
Regulations, (vi) locally made product statement as provided for in Regulation 2.3.7 of the Regulations, 
(vii) name and address as provided for in Regulation 2.3.8 of the Regulations and (viii) consumer contact 
telephone number as provided for in Regulation 2.3.9 of the Regulations.  WT/DS458/1 • G/L/1026 • IP/D/33 • G/TBT/D/43 
 
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   Article IX:4 of the GATT 1994, because Australia imposes requirements relating to the 
marking of imported cigar products which materia lly reduce their value and/or 
unreasonably increase their cost of production. 
 Article 2.1 of the TRIPS Agreement read with Article 10bis, paragraphs (1) and (3) of the 
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (as amended by the Stockholm 
Act of 1967), because Australia does not provide effective protection against unfair competition. 
 Article 22.2(b) of the TRIPS Agreement, because Australia does not provide effective 
protection against acts of unfair competition with respect to Cuban geographical indications. 
 Article 24.3 of the TRIPS Agreement, because Australia is diminishing the level of 
protection afforded to Cuban geographical indications as compared with the level of 
protection that existed in Australia prior to 1 January 1995. 
 Article 2.1 of the TRIPS Agreement read with Article 6quinquies of the Paris Convention 
for the Protection of Industrial Property  (as amended by the Stockholm Act of 1967), 
because trademarks registered in a country of origin outside Australia are not protected by Australia "as is". 
 Article 15.4 of the TRIPS Agreement, because the nature of the goods to which a 
trademark is to be applied forms an obstacle to the registration of trademarks in Australia. 
 Article 16.1 of the TRIPS Agreement, because Australia prevents owners of registered 
trademarks from enjoying the rights conferred by a trademark. 
 Article 3.1 of the TRIPS Agreement, becaus e Australia accords to nationals of other 
Members treatment less favourable than it accords to its own nationals with respect to 
the protection of intellectual property.  
 Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement, because Australia imposes technica l regulations that 
accord to imported tobacco products treatment less favourable than that accorded to like 
products of national origin. 
 Article III:4 of the GATT 1994, because Australi a accords to imported tobacco products 
treatment less favourable than that accorded to like products of national origin. 
Cuba reserves the right to raise additional claims or matters during the course of 
consultations, and in any future request for panel proceedings. 
 
Cuba looks forward to Australia's response to th is request, and to fixing a mutual acceptable 
date for consultations.  
  
 
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