On 22 May Philip Morris Intl. and British American Tobacco launched legal claims against the British Government for losses as a result of the planned introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes.

It is thought the companies will argue that forcing them to use plain packaging amounts to deprivation of a highly valuable intellectual property and that the law breaches EU law.

Imperial Tobacco Group and Japan Tobacco Intl. have previously said they would also take legal action but have not yet filed suits.

The UK Department of Health responded saying that it refuses to be "held to ransom by the tobacco industry".