[Intl-tobacco] EU to take Germany to court over tobacco ads

[robert weissman]

EU to take Germany to court over tobacco ads: report - Leadingthecharge.com

Staff and agencies

12 April, 2006
BERLIN - Germany could face legal action for failing to implement a ban on
advertising tobacco, a European Commissioner was quoted on Wednesday as
saying.

"We have to wait until May 1 to assess the situation. But I am determined
to bring
the case to the Court of Justice without delay and will recommend this
step to the
Commission," Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou
told
Germany's Berliner Zeitung daily.

A decision on whether to proceed would be made at a meeting scheduled for
June 28,
he added.

"Germany and Luxembourg are the only nations which have still not passed
any law,"
Kyprianou said in an interview. "Although Luxembourg is apparently in the
process of
doing it."

EU rules ban tobacco advertising in print media, on the radio and internet
and at
cross-border events or activities. Member states had until July 31, 2005 to
introduce the EU rules into national law.

The Commission earlier this month began legal action against four EU
countries for
failing to ban tobacco advertisements at motor racing and other events,
part of a
wider campaign to crack down on smoking.

The Commission sent "letters of formal notice" to the Czech Republic,
Italy, Hungary
and Spain.

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