Global groups attack cigarette pack plan

Eight global trademark and intellectual property rights groups have joined forces to demand that the Government abandons its plans to outlaw branded cigarette packets.

The organisations, mainly based in Europe, are the latest to attack the hard-hitting marketing clampdown and warned that alcoholic drinks could be the next target.

The IP associations claim a ban on all logos, trademarks, colours, designs and graphics on tobacco products — except gruesome images of disease — will take basic ownership rights from the big tobacco firms.