EU: Advertising War Hots Up

Robert Toet, chairman of the Confederation of European Community Cigarette Manufacturers (CECCM), said last week that moves to restrict tobacco advertising in the EU – where health ministers are currently studying proposals for complete advertising bans – will mean a price war between manufacturers. Toet said European health policy Commissioner Padraig Flynn “has declared war” on the industry, adding: “If you have no other form of competition, you have to go to pricing. If you don’t want a price war between companies then you should allow other marketing tools.”