Japan Tobacco International has filed a legal challenge to the UK legislation introducing plain packaging for cigarettes and RYO tobacco products with the High Court in London.
The firm said it considered plain packaging unlawful.
JTI and others have repeatedly and consistently argued that plain packaging infringes important principles of UK and EU law, and other fundamental rights, and goes against obligations under WTO rules. The legal challenge will ask the Court to affirm JTI’s ability to use its property rights in the context of a measure which, in their view, “has not worked in Australia and will not work here”.
Daniel Torras, JTI UK Managing Director said: “We have clearly and repeatedly made clear to the UK Government that plain packaging will infringe our fundamental legal rights without reducing smoking. Despite the lack of evidence that plain packaging works, the Government has decided to proceed and JTI must now protect its rights in the Courts.”
