The maker of Marlboro has fired the first shot of what threatens to become a legal war with the Australian Government over plans to introduce brandless packaging for cigarettes.
Philip Morris threatened to sue Canberra yesterday over plans to restrict the appearance of tobacco industry logos, brand imagery, colours and promotional text on packs, saying that it would damage its brands.
The rules, which are expected to come into force in January, would mean that all brand and product names would appear in a standard text and colour on olive green packaging. Philip Morris Asia, which owns the company’s Australian business, served a notice of legal claim on the Government under Australia’s bilateral investment treaty with Hong Kong, which holds Australia responsible to protect Hong