Rules that will drastically alter
cigarette packaging are set to be adopted, after big tobacco firms
failed to block new European Union laws.
Europe's highest court upheld a law that will standardise packaging and ban the advertising of e-cigarettes.
The Court of Justice found 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% of the front and back of cigarette packaging.
The
rules are due to take effect from 20 May, but the new packets won't be
on sale until stocks of existing cartons have been cleared over the next
year.
Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco challenged the proposed legislation.
They
argued that the rules were not lawful because they contradicted
European Union treaties governing the relationship between the Union and
member states.
Individual EU states are also working on new packaging rules.
In
the UK, the government wants to introduce tobacco packs with no
branding - a move which is being challenged by big tobacco companies.
That law is also due to be in place later this month.
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