Tobacco companies are reportedly launching a major legal assault against the UK government’s standardised packaging legislation
According to the Daily Telegraph, the move could be one of the biggest ever legal claims against the UK government and will focus on losses incurred as a result of plain packs.
Legal representatives are expected to argue that unbranded packaging will result in a deprivation of intellectual property and a breach of trademark law. Analysts claim that, if successful, the government could be hit with an £11bn bill.
The Telegraph reports that Philip Morris International, the company behind the Marlboro brand, could be the first tobacco company to lodge papers.
The controversial law on standardised tobacco packaging was passed by MPs in March. Tobacco companies also argued that the legislation would also result in the removal of on pack anti-counterfeit codes.
