Cigarette advertising rules

THE highest court in Europe has rejected a claim by international tobacco companies appealing against a law being passed by the EU that will standardise packaging and ban the advertising of e-cigarettes.

The Court of Justice found that the laws “did not go beyond the limits of what is appropriate and necessary.” Under the new rules health warnings will have to cover 65 per cent of the front and back of the packet, and although the rules are due to take effect from May 20, the new packets will not be on sale until stocks of existing cartons have been cleared.