JTI to Challenge UK Display Ban

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 04/28/2010

The UK government is coming under increasing attack over its tobacco-products display ban. British American Tobacco (along with three co-plaintiffs), the Imperial Tobacco Group and Japan Tobacco International are each mounting a legal challenge to the ban. In a statement issue yesterday, JTI said it had consistently questioned the UK government's proposals to ban the display of tobacco in shops. "Unfortunately the government has decided to press ahead despite the serious concerns raised by JTI, the vast majority of retailers and many members of parliament," the statement said. "In particular, the process which has led to the display ban - and the ban itself - does not comply with Better Regulation principles." The Health Act 2009 and accompanying display regulations for England are unreasonable and disproportionate. "Under the circumstances, JTI has been given no option but to start the legal process to challenge the introduction of this legislation." "Despite the fact that public policy must be based upon clear evidence and sound research, the UK government has failed to provide such support to justify the display ban," said Daniel Torras, managing director of JTI UK. "Whilst JTI agrees with the key rationale that children and young people should not smoke and should not be able to buy tobacco products, there is no credible evidence that hiding cigarette packs from view at retail outlets will achieve the objective of further reducing youth smoking. "The proposals will have serious unintended consequences such as a negative impact on small business and risk increasing the trade in illicit products supplied by criminals who sell to children and encourage law-abiding people to break the law." JTI said it believed there were a range of alternative solutions better able to address the government's goals, including reinforcing retail access prevention measures, criminalizing proxy purchasing and youth purchase of tobacco, and further addressing tobacco smuggling. Reports on BAT and Imperial's challenges appeared on this website yesterday. Enditem