- SYDNEY: Tobacco giant Philip Morris has launched legal action against the Australian government over the country’s plans to strip all logos from cigarette packages.
The legislation would ban cigarette makers from printing their logos, promotional text or colorful images on packs.
Brand names will instead be printed in a small, uniform font and feature large health warnings and gruesome images of cancerous mouths and sickly children.
Hong Kong-based Philip Morris Asia Limited filed a notice of claim on Monday arguing the legislation violates a bilateral investment treaty between Australia and Hong Kong.
The Australian government is defending its plan and says it won’t be intimidated by legal threats.
