EU plans cigarette logos ban

Published on 18/08/2012 14:44

THE European Union is considering banning logos on cigarette packets as part of an upcoming review of its law to deter smoking, a spokesman said on Thursday, a day after Australia’s highest court upheld a similar ban.

Cigarettes sold in Australia now have to be contained in plain khaki boxes with no logo after the Australian court dismissed a legal challenge to the government’s ban in a case filed by British American Tobacco, Britain’s Imperial Tobacco, Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco.

The EU will publish a draft revision to its 2001 Tobacco Products Directive this autumn, and may introduce more stringent rules on packaging as well as extend legislation to newer tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes.

“Many things are being discussed, including the possibility of plain packaging,” Antonio Gravili, a spokesperson for the European Commission said.