ECJ to rule on cigarette pack health warnings

The European Court of Justice is due to issue a preliminary ruling this morning on an EU directive which could see health warnings cover nearly two-thirds of cigarette packs.

The ruling could determine whether Ireland can go-ahead with plans to bring in plain cigarette packaging.

It comes after tobacco companies, Philip Morris and British American Tobacco, brought proceedings claiming the proposed directive limits the free movement of goods in the EU and runs against the principle of 'subsidiarity', where issues are decided at national level, rather than by the EU.

Source: rte.ie