Australian court backs branding ban on cigarettes

15 August 2012 10:29

Australian court backs branding ban on cigarettes

Australia's highest court has upheld the world's toughest law on tobacco promotion to date, despite protests from tobacco companies fearing for the value of their trademarks.

The decision by the High Court means that from December, tobacco companies will no longer be able to display their distinctive colours, branding and logos on cigarette packs. The packs will instead come in a uniform shade of olive, designed to make smoking as unglamorous as possible, featuring graphic health warnings and images of cancer-riddled mouths, blinded eyeballs and sickly children.

Countries such as New Zealand and India, as well as the UK, will be watching the outcome of the move keenly as they contemplate taking similar measures.