EU court backs tougher rules for tobacco packaging

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The EU’s highest court has ruled in favour of tougher rules on cigarette packaging.

The case is the result of a legal challenge by two major tobacco firms.

The new rules, agreed by EU governments, standardise cigarette packets.

Health warnings will have to cover 65 percent of the packaging.

The rules also ban commercials for e-cigarettes.

They will kick in on May 20th.

The firms had argued that the EU legislation was disproportionate and excessive.

But that argument was rejected by judges in Luxembourg.