Tobacco Ad Ban Illegal, According To Euro MPs

Euro MPs on two committees have declared that the Euro-Directive which bans tobacco advertising across Europe is illegal.

MEPs on the Legal Affairs and Monetary Affairs committees have said that the move could not be passed as a single market, health or internal trade measure and therefore could not become law.

A second vote on the subject is set to take place next week in the European Parliament, though supporters of the ban say that the committees’ opinion will not be upheld by the majority of members.

If the European Parliament did decide that a tobacco advertising ban was illegal it could place the British Government, which has committed itself to introducing the ban, in an embarrassing position: it may have to either back down or challenge the move in the European courts.

European Parliament in the UK: 0171 227 4300