Coalition backs plain cigarette packs

But it plans to oppose changes to trademarking.

The Liberal-Nationals joint party room yesterday voted to back the Government's world-first move to put cigarettes in drab-coloured packets from mid-2012 in a bid to cut smoking rates.

But a Coalition spokesman said a second Bill regarding trademarking would be opposed.

"The effect of the Bill will be to declare that regulations made by the minister will prevail over any contrary provision of the Trademark Act," the spokesman said.

Under Labor's plan, manufacturers would have to produce plain packets from May next year, while retailers would be banned from selling any branded stock six weeks later.

British American Tobacco Australia says it's impossible to produce the olive-brown packs devoid of branding by May.
But the Health Department does not believe big tobacco needs extra time to prepare.

BATA plans to challenge the legislation in the courts on the grounds that it unlawfully acquired the company's intellectual property rights.