Tobacco manufacturers request review of regulations

Tobacco manufacturers are to take legal action against new rules that further restrict advertising of their products in the UK.

The Tobacco Manufacturers Association (TMA) said it has asked the British High Court for a review of new regulations limiting tobacco advertising at the point of sale.

Members of the TMA include tobacco heavy hitters such Philip Morris, British American Tobacco , Gallaher Group and Imperial Tobacco.

The rules restrict advertising of tobacco products at point of sale to one advertisement per retail outlet that does not exceed the size of an A5 sheet of paper, of which 30% must be a health warning, the TMA said.

The UK government imposed a tobacco advertising ban in February last year, leaving companies to rely on display shelves in shops to promote their goods.