The Federal Court dismissed British American Tobacco Australia’s appeal to obtain documents pertaining to legal advice given the government on imposing generic packaging for cigarettes.

Upholding an earlier appeals court decision, the Full Court in a ruling posted on its website today said BAT was not entitled to the documents it had sought via the Freedom of Information process from the Department of Health and Ageing.
BAT previously said release of the documents would show the plain packaging legislation is flawed. The proposal before parliament seeks to mandate plain brown packaging for all cigarette products, devoid of brand imagery or promotional text, as of 2012. (pi)