Tobacco giants win judicial review on EU bill

The European Union's tobacco directive was set to be challenged at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) after cigarette giants won a judicial review to examine whether the bill's provisions of more health warnings and product bans is disproportionate and infringes single market rules.

On 3 November 2014, London's High Court judge Justice Turner referred the case to the ECJ in Luxembourg, the ultimate arbitrator on the validity of EU law.

The ECJ was expected to take two years before making a decision, during which time the directive will remain in force.

The case was lodged in June 2014 by Philip Morris, the world's largest tobacco manufacturer, among a list of claimants including British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Tobacco giant initiates EU court challenge http://www.europeansources.info/record/tobacco-giant-initiates-eu-court-challenge/

BBC News, 03.11.14: Tobacco firms win legal right to challenge EU rules http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29876574

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