Philip Morris sues Australia over cigarette packaging

[alp227]

Source: BBC

Tobacco giant Philip Morris is suing the Australian government over a new law making plain packaging mandatory for cigarettes from December 2012.

Australia's parliament has passed legislation that means all tobacco will need to be sold in plain olive-brown packets with graphic health warnings.

Canberra said the law was "one of the most momentous public health measures in Australia's history".

But Philip Morris Asia said the move breached a bilateral investment treaty.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15815311

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caption: Under the new law, brand names will appear in the same position, font, size and colour on packets

I've heard that in capitalism, businesses will regulate themselves. Well, why is a big tobacco company so defensive about our right to know the health consequences of smoking?

[saras]

1. It wouldn't matter what packaging they used if they just made them prescription-only

[Tanelorn]

2. Now that is an idea. Do the same for mary-jane and other drugs.

Treat it like the health problem that they are.

[alittlelark]

4. What rock did you crawl out from under?

Down Under Reality is my guess.

MJ is significantly less harmful than alcohol.


The rock is calling for you....

[MrScorpio]

3. Obviously Phillip Morris hates truth in advertising nt