Scotland Wants Plain Cigarette Packaging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plain cigarette packaging is to be introduced in Scotland under a plan to make the nation "tobacco free" by 2034.

 

The tobacco industry is having none of it and is again sabre-rattling, warning that it is ready to sue the Scottish Government for up to £500 million in damages if plans to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes go ahead.

 

The Scotsman has learned the figure has been privately briefed to MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament) by tobacco giant Philip Morris, based on the loss of intellectual property rights. While the firm will not publicly threaten legal action, court cases are under way in Australia, where plain packaging has been introduced, making the prospect of similar action in Scotland “likely”, according to company sources.

 

But the Scottish Government insists it will bring forward legislation for plain packaging, despite the possibility of legal action. Scotland has already led the way in the UK with moves such as banning smoking in public buildings and introducing minimum pricing for alcohol.

 

The £500 million figure has been revealed as Philip Morris, whose brands include Marlboro, and L&M publishes its evidence to the UK government’s review into plain packaging, in which it claims the move has no impact on smoking levels, based on evidence from Australia, and has actually led to an increase in black-market tobacco.

 

However, supporters of plain packaging claim its introduction will reduce smoking by removing a means of advertising from the tobacco companies. They also point out Scotland spends about £500m on tobacco-related health problems.

 

The Scottish Government has committed to introduce standardised packaging for tobacco products – commonly referred to as plain packaging – and is expected to legislate in the 2014-15 parliamentary session.

 

Public health minister Michael Matheson made it clear he wanted Scotland to lead the way with a measure that Prime Minister David Cameron has been reluctant to introduce in England. He said: “We are determined to see Scotland remain at the forefront of countries committed to bold action to reduce the harm caused by tobacco".

 

The Australian government last year won a legal battle with the tobacco companies on plain packaging, but it is facing challenges through the World Trade Organisation.

 

But this is where the tobacco industry is clutching at straws. If as it says plain packaging doesn’t work, then why is it so enthusiastic about threatening to sue the government?