Publishers Ready To ‘Fight” Tobacco Ad Ban ‘All The Way’

The European Magazine publishers Federation (FAEP) has attacked Friday’s announcement by the Government that tobacco advertising and sponsorship will be made illegal after 2006 (subscribers see Tobacco Sponsorship To Be Phased Out Over Nine Years).

The Federation says that the ad ban “lacks a sound legal basis in Community law and clearly runs counter to the principles of freedom of expression.” FAEP president Chris Llewwllyn said that the FAEP and other European publishers “will fight this unfair measure all the way.”

PPA chief executive Ian Locks welcomed the exemption of business-to-business communications but said that the debate had been “extremely emotional” with sound arguments being “brushed aside.”

There is currently speculation that tobacco manufacturers may look to fight their case in the European Court of Justice.

PPA: 0171 404 4166