"The court finds that, in providing that each unit packet and the outside packaging must carry health warnings ... the EU legislature did not go beyond the limits of what is appropriate and necessary," the court said in its decision.
The legal challenge, which was also supported by Japan Tobacco International and Imperial Brands, can now be taken no further and the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) will take effect on 20 May, though there is a one-year sell-through period to allow wholesalers and retailers to sell existing stocks.
The court`s validation of TPD bodes poorly for another case tobacco companies have brought against the UK government over its new law aimed at reducing the lure of smoking by forcing tobacco to be sold in uniformly drab packs with no branding. That law is also due to take effect this month.
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