British American Tobacco vs the Government of Namibia

In Namibia, the country’s biggest tobacco seller, British American Tobacco (BAT), is reportedly threatening the Government with legal action over a new bill that will force cigarette companies to print graphic health warnings on packaging.¹
Under the Tobacco Products Control Act of 2010, packs will have to carry photographs of stained teeth and damaged lungs with appropriate warnings underneath the picture.
BAT claims that:

• the proposed legislation will expropriate BAT’s intellectual property
• it will undermine the company’s right to free expression prevent the company from “freely communicating to consumers the nature of the lawful products on offer”¹
• there is no evidence that the legislation will work
• it will lead to increased smuggling.