The tobacco industry and its affiliates have stepped up their lobbying in the United Kingdom against proposals to introduce standardised plain packaging on cigarettes and other tobacco products, say health campaigners and industry observers.

The rise in campaigning against plain packaging since the Department of Health launched its consultation in April has been “massive,” said Andrew Rowell, a research fellow at the University of Bath. He added, “There has been a huge amount of lobbying by industry, both direct and indirect. It is reaching a crescendo to coincide with the end of the consultation.”

The health department launched a consultation in April on whether tobacco products should be sold in standardised packaging.1 Packaging would be a standard colour with no branding, and text would be in a standard font. The consultation was due to end on 10 July but was extended for …