Britain says minded to introduce mandatory plain cigarette packaging

LONDON, April 3 (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it wasminded to force tobacco firms to sell cigarettes in plainstandardised packaging and would hold a short consultation onthe issue before taking a final decision.

Jane Ellison, a minister in Britain's Department of Health,cited what she called a "compelling" review commissioned by thegovernment which she said had shown plain packaging wouldimprove public health and cut the number of child smokers.

"In light of this report and the responses to the previousconsultation in 2012 I am therefore currently minded to proceedwith introducing regulations to provide for standardisedpackaging," Ellison told parliament.

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

British American Tobacco