YESTERDAY’S preliminary ruling, usually a first step towards complete vindication, by the European Court of Justice, supporting Government intentions to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products is very welcome — all the more so as it seems rulings against conglomerates, intended to protect ordinary citizens, are becoming as scarce as turkey teeth. The court’s advocate general said the standardisation of labelling and packaging is a “proportionate” measure and that it challenges the “coolness” of current packaging.
