Philip Morris is challenging Australian government attempts to mandate plain packaging for cigarettes, saying removal of trademarks and other intellectual property violate an international investment treaty.

A notice of legal claim filed by Philip Morris Asia claims blank packaging violates Australia’s Bilateral Investment Treaty with Hong Kong, where PM Asia is based, the cigarette company said in a statement.
Serving notice begins a three-month period in which the parties must seek a negotiated settlement, PM said. If the talks fail, PM said it will seek arbitration under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law 2010.
PM Asia owns Philip Morris Limited, which makes and markets PM products in Australia. (ci)