the retail and tobacco sectors have been responding to public health minister jane ellison&rsquos announcement that regulations enforcing cigarette plain packaging are to be laid before parliament before the general election in may.once the legislation is passed, cigarettes and handrolling tobacco would have to be sold in standardised packs from may 2016.melvin ruigrok, general manager of imperial tobacco uk said &ldquothe government should evaluate the effectiveness of current tobacco control measures before proceeding with standardised packaging where no credible evidence has been forthcoming that it will contribute to improving public health.&ldquoas shown in australia, standardised packaging in england will merely act as a windfall for criminals looking to profit from the illicit trade furthermore we will work on strengthening our brands which are defended by national, european and international laws concerning the protection of intellectual property.&ldquoto reassure the trade as an industry we have effectively and robustly navigated our way through a plethora of tobacco legislation whilst continuing to provide an important category for our trade partners. the government announcement does not represent a done deal and we will continue to positively and proactively engage with the government.&rdquojti head of communications jeremy blackburn said &ldquojti strongly considers that plain packaging would be unlawful. it would deprive us of assets worth billions of pounds at a time when the uk economy appears to be turning the corner.&ldquoit is inexplicable that the government is rushing to legislate on this important issue, which was opposed by nearly two thirds of the respondents to a public consultation and over 40 of other eu member states have raised concerns over the plain packaging proposals.&ldquojti and others have repeatedly said that plain packaging would infringe eu requirements on the free movement of goods, violate property and other fundamental rights &ndash including trademark rights &ndash and go against obligations under eu and wto rules.&ldquowe have no doubt the major crime syndicates across the globe are scrutinising these proposed regulations as the uk government prepares to provide counterfeiters with a blueprint of exactly how to copy uk tobacco packs in the future.&ldquobrand owners of products in any controversial industries should prepare for similar antibusiness measures as the government has now made it clear that regulation will be passed despite the evidence showing that plain packaging doesn&rsquot work.&ldquoassociation of convenience stores chief executive james lowman said &ldquothere is no convincing evidence that standardised packaging will affect smoking rates.&rdquo&ldquothe tobacco display ban has not yet been introduced for small stores, but instead of assessing the impact one regulation before moving to the next, the government is pressing ahead with new and burdensome regulations for local shops.&rdquoscottish grocers&rsquo federation public affairs manager john lee said &ldquowe are shocked that the uk government has made this announcement before it has even responded to its own consultation on plain packs and while the eu standstill period is still in place.&ldquoretailers are angry about the severe penalties outlined in the draft legislation of up to two years imprisonment. more and more this is appearing to be a sham consultation process with a business impact assessment that was not fit for purpose and an outcome that was predetermined.&ldquothe uk government seems to have caved in to political pressure and the impact on retailers and the illicit trade could be severe.&rdquo 
