London - British American Tobacco , the world's second-largest cigarette maker, said on Thursday it would take action against the UK government if it enacts a plan to put cigarettes in "plain packaging".
"If the regulations, as published this week, are passed, we anticipate taking legal action," said Jerome Abelman, BAT's director of corporate and regulatory affairs.
The UK parliament is expected to vote on regulations to ban branding on cigarette packs before it is dissolved on March 30, in preparation for the general election on May 7.