British American Tobacco (BAT), responding to press reports the British government will introduce standard packaging for cigarettes, said legal challenges to Australia’s law should be settled first.

“It is important to remember that these are just rumours at the moment,” commented BAT on reports government ministers have agreed to a proposal to be unveiled in May. “We would be surprised and disappointed if the UK government implemented plain packaging when there is still no credible evidence to suggest it will support any stated public health objectives”, the tobacco company said in a statement.
“It would seem more sensible for the UK government to await the outcome of (legal) challenges before making any final decision regarding plain packaging, as the New Zealand government has done”, BAT said. (ci)