Peers voted in favour of an amendment to the Children and Families Bill which would allow the quick introduction of plain packs if it became government policy.
James Lowman, ACS chief executive, said: “If the government becomes convinced of the evidence for standardised tobacco packaging, then we believe they should have allowed for the policy to be subject to full legislative scrutiny.”
The tobacco industry is fighting tooth and nail to prevent ministers voting for plain packs.
It has presented a review of the Australian experience (introduced in 2011) which it says has failed to cut smoking, led to an increase in smuggling and has also warned an imposition of plain packaging could be illegal in the UK.
Tobacco firms will likely present figures it says show that smoking rates are largely unchanged in Australia while illicit cigarette sales have increased.
However, there are figures to the contrary. Research released last summer in Australia by Cancer Council Victoria showed plain packaging made cigarettes less appealing and increased smoker’s desire to quit.
Additionally, tobacco firms could threaten to sue the British government, based on the loss of intellectual property rights and contravention of EU law.
Reports in Scotland claim the industry is threatening to sue the Scottish Government for up to £500m in damages if plain packaging is introduced.
