Judicial Review of Product Display Ban Sought

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC seeks judicial review of tobacco product display ban

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC announces today that it is seeking a judicial review of the relevant sections of the Health Act 2009 and proposed regulations which seek to ban the display of tobacco products in retail outlets from October 2011.

Gareth Davis, Chief Executive, said: "Banning the display of tobacco products is a further example of the Government's unreasonable and disproportionate approach to regulating tobacco.

"There is no credible evidence to support the idea that children start smoking or that adult smokers continue to smoke as a result of the display of tobacco products.

"If this misguided legislation is implemented it will simply fuel the growth in the illicit trade of tobacco and create a huge cost burden for retailers who are already under considerable pressure as a result of the difficult economic climate."

In February 2010 Imperial Tobacco announced that its cigarette vending machine subsidiary Sinclair Collis was seeking a judicial review of the relevant sections of the Health Act 2009 which seek to ban sales of tobacco from vending machines from October 2011.

Enquiries:

Alex Parsons (Head of Corporate Communications) Telephone: +44 (0) 1179 337 241

Simon Evans (Group Press Officer) Telephone: +44 (0) 1179 337 375

Copies of our announcements are available on our website: www.imperial-tobacco.com