烟草在线据《杂货店》报道编译　　日本烟草国际公司计划将提高公众对政府强制烟草使用平装的计划影响的意识行动推入第二阶段。

　　日本烟草国际公司的品牌包括丝刻和梅菲尔。该公司计划从周日（9月30日）开始，开展一系列的全国媒体广告，直至10月10日，这恰巧与政党大会期的时间相一致。

　　这些广告将以平装对刺激非法贸易、阻碍小企业和减少国库收取税额的影响为核心。

　　日本烟草国际公司的英国常务董事马丁·索斯盖特警告说：“政府说，它打算着眼于让中小型企业来领导我们走出经济萧条。但卷烟平装的提议同样威胁到了那些处于最脆弱时候企业的生存。”

　　他补充说：“烟草是社区商店的营业额和客流量的主要推动因素。因此，我们的行动将以解释烟草产品非法贸易如何影响到零售商，以及这种情况可能会如何变得更糟糕等这些问题为核心。”

　　在政府关于实行卷烟平装的意见咨询在8月得出结论前，日本烟草国际公司在7月份发起了意识行动的第一阶段。这次征询公众意见的结果预计将在今年晚些时候得出。

Japan: Tobacco Giant's Plain Packs Campaign Enters New Phase

　　Japan Tobacco International is set to launch the second phase of its campaign to increase public awareness of the impact of government plans to force tobacco into plain packaging.

　　The manufacturer, whose brands include Silk Cut and Mayfair, is set to run a series of national press advertising from this Sunday (30 September) until 10 October, coinciding with the political party conference season.

　　The ads will focus on the impact of plain packs on fuelling the illicit trade, harming small businesses and reducing the amount of money collected by the Exchequer.

　　"The government has said that it is looking to small and medium-sized businesses to lead us out of the recession," warned JTI UK managing director Martin Southgate. "But the plain packaging proposals threaten those same businesses at a time when they are most vulnerable."

　　He added: "Tobacco is a key driver of turnover and footfall for community stores. Our campaign will therefore focus on explaining the issues, how the illegal trade in tobacco products is already affecting retailers, and how it could get worse."

　　JTI launched the first phase of its campaign in July ahead of the conclusion of the government's consultation into plain packaging in August. The outcome of the consultation is expected later this year. Enditem