North Carolina governor to Irish, French officials: Give up plan for plain cigarette packaging

North Carolina's governor argues in letters to the French and Irish governments that farmers and manufacturers in the top tobacco-producing state would be hurt by proposals in those countries to package cigarettes in blank containers.

In a letter dated Oct. 6 to France's ambassador, Gov. Pat McCrory said there's little evidence that plain packaging deters smokers.

He wrote a similar letter to Irish officials. In both letters, he compares North Carolina's tobacco industry to Ireland and France's famed vineyards, breweries and distilleries.

Both countries are considering proposals that would require nondescript packaging for cigarettes.

Australia became the first country in the world to mandate plain cigarette packs with no brand logo or colors permitted with a law that went into effect in 2012.