Imperial Tobacco Challenging Federal Increase in the Size of Package Warnings

Source from:  Associated Press 04/26/2012

MONTREAL - Imperial Tobacco Canada is fighting the constitutionality of Ottawa's plan to increase the size of graphic health warnings so that they cover 75 per cent of the surface of cigarette packages. The company said in a statement today it believes current regulations, including the existing 50-per-cent-sized health warnings, provide sufficient information to consumers. Imperial Tobacco spokesman John Clayton says instead of forcing new regulations on legitimate cigarette companies, Ottawa should be cracking down on the illegal tobacco market where packages have no health labels whatsoever. Imperial contends that increasing the size of the warnings infringes on its ability to communicate and violates the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The government approved the increase in the size of graphic health warnings in September 2011. All tobacco packaging in Canada must comply with the new regulations by June 19. Enditem