Tobacco firm challenges labelling proposal

Tobacco giant Philip Morris has launched legal action against the Australian government over plans to replace company logos on cigarette packets with grisly images of cancerous mouths, sickly children and bulging, blinded eyes.

The government believes the new rules will make the packages less attractive to smokers and turn Australia into the world’s toughest country on tobacco advertising.

But several outraged cigarette makers have threatened lawsuits, arguing the move illegally diminishes the value of their trademarks.