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17th Feb 2015

Tobacco giants threaten to sue Ireland if they proceed with plain packaging law

Government receives solicitor letter

JOE

Government receives solicitor letter.

The Irish government has been threatened with legal action from solicitors representing one of the biggest tobacco firms in the world.

The threat comes as Ireland plans to bring in legislation regarding the packaging of cigarettes.

Tobacco Shop Displays To Be Banned

The Irish government plans to introduce legislation which will ensure that cigarettes will be packed in plain boxes and this has infuriated the JTI Ireland Group, a subsidiary of the global giant, the Japan Tobacco Group.

Similar legislation exists in Australia and both England and Wales are in the highest court in Europe at the moment having been challenged by the tobacco firm for trying to bring in plain package legislation.

The firm are insisting that the legislation affects their ‘intellectual property rights’ and have insisted that the Irish government ceases their plan, at least until the European court case is settled.

We reported here yesterday about John Oliver’s superb rant against the tobacco industry which also featured a segment about plain packaging. It’s well worth a look…

johnoliver

 

Our man Eric Lalor is currently trying to kick the habit and is already three parts into a weekly diary piece on his quest.

With Ash Wednesday upon us which represents a landmark day when a lot of people try to kick the habit, it’ll be interesting to see what stance the Irish government adopt with these latest developments.

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