And, according to Ms Armstrong, the tobacco industry is not quaking with fear about a wave of plain packaging legislation.

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There was no place in the Queen's Speech for proposals to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes or legislation on minimum alcohol pricing, although Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has insisted both plans are still under consideration.

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The Union introduced recycling requirements on all packaging in the early 1990s, and has just formally adopted legislation to require recycling of motor vehicles.

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