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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tobacco companies lose legal battle over plain-packaging rules | Tobacco companies lose legal battle over plain-packaging rules |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tobacco companies have lost a legal battle over the Government's new rules on plain packaging for cigarettes. | Tobacco companies have lost a legal battle over the Government's new rules on plain packaging for cigarettes. |
| The firms were defeated at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday morning. | The firms were defeated at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday morning. |
| Since May, all tobacco products produced for sale in the UK are required to have dull green packaging, without attractive logos or visual details. | Since May, all tobacco products produced for sale in the UK are required to have dull green packaging, without attractive logos or visual details. |
| British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International filed lawsuits against Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over the rules last year. | |
| They argued that the regulations were "disproportionate" and violated a number of UK and EU laws as well as destroying valuable property rights. | They argued that the regulations were "disproportionate" and violated a number of UK and EU laws as well as destroying valuable property rights. |
| But the tobacco giants' challenge was overturned the day before the branded packaging ban was implemented. | But the tobacco giants' challenge was overturned the day before the branded packaging ban was implemented. |
| A High Court judge declared the regulations "valid and lawful in all respects" and ruled there were no grounds for compensation for tobacco firms. | A High Court judge declared the regulations "valid and lawful in all respects" and ruled there were no grounds for compensation for tobacco firms. |
| The companies then took their case on to the Court of Appeal in London, where this morning three judges rejected their challenge against the High Court's decision. | The companies then took their case on to the Court of Appeal in London, where this morning three judges rejected their challenge against the High Court's decision. |
| Dismissing the appeal, Lord Justice Lewison, Lord Justice Beatson and Sir Stephen Richards ruled that the Health Secretary had “lawfully exercised his powers”. | Dismissing the appeal, Lord Justice Lewison, Lord Justice Beatson and Sir Stephen Richards ruled that the Health Secretary had “lawfully exercised his powers”. |
| A one-year transitional period is currently under way for old stock to be sold – but from May 2017, all tobacco products on sale must comply with these regulations. | A one-year transitional period is currently under way for old stock to be sold – but from May 2017, all tobacco products on sale must comply with these regulations. |
| France and Ireland have also adopted the decision to end attractively-branded cigarette packets, which was pioneered by Australia in 2012. | France and Ireland have also adopted the decision to end attractively-branded cigarette packets, which was pioneered by Australia in 2012. |
| One in five adults smokes in the UK and according to the British Medical Association, smoking costs the NHS £2.7 billion each year. | One in five adults smokes in the UK and according to the British Medical Association, smoking costs the NHS £2.7 billion each year. |