TMA: Plain packaging would breach legal obligations

Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association chief executive Christopher Ogden comments on proposals to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products:

“The TMA is strongly opposed to the principle of plain packaging… we do not believe any plans for plain packaging are based on sound public policy, nor any compelling evidence.

“Moves to prevent tobacco companies from exercising their intellectual property rights would place the government in breach of legal obligations relating to intellectual property, international trade and European law.

“Plain packs are also likely to lead to yet further increases in the smuggling of tobacco products and plain packs would make it so much easier for a counterfeiter to copy than existing branded packs making it even more difficult for a consumer to differentiate between genuine and counterfeit products.”