Tobacco distributor fights plain packaging change

A distributor of a number of well-known tobacco brands says the Government cannot unilaterally introduce plain packaging on its products as a member of the EU.

JTI Ireland Ltd says this would be contrary to EU harmonisation objectives and an obstacle to trade between member states.

JTI also claims the rules, due to come in next month, will distort and impair the dynamics of competition in the tobacco market. They will dramatically reduce the ability of consumers to engage in “informed switching” and are likely to lead to a fall in the average price of tobacco products as a whole, it is claimed.