Australia's Legal Victory on Plain Cigarette Packaging Law

By Mike Bloomberg

Australia’s legal victory over the tobacco industry on plain packaging will save many lives, especially by helping young people who are susceptible to advertising avoid picking up smoking in the first place – and it’s further evidence that countries can stand up to the tobacco industry and win. Tobacco companies will do whatever it takes to undermine efforts to reduce smoking, especially in low-income countries that don’t have the resources to fight expensive lawsuits. Bloomberg Philanthropies is committed to helping more of those countries fight back through the litigation fund we launched with the Gates Foundation and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. This is a fight for people’s lives, and as today’s decision shows, the momentum is on our side.

Background on the Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund:

In March of 2015, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Gates Foundation created a fund to be administered by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK). The purpose of the new program is to assist governments in low- and middle-income countries by defending their tobacco control laws from suits brought by the tobacco industry through international trade agreements. CTFK will direct financial, legal, and other technical assistance toward countries that are under attack.