Cigarette Company Given A Year To sell Off Old Stock New Rules Apply

Smoking causes an estimated 700,000 premature deaths each year and it is hoped the new rules will reduce the number of smokers across the EU by 2.4 million.

The changes include a ban on menthol cigarettes from 2020 and promotional statements such as "this product is free of additives" or "is less harmful than other brands".

Companies have a year to sell old stock and fully implement the changes under the directive.

Cigarettes are being sold in the UK in standardised green packaging with explicit images from today, under new rules designed to cut the number of smokers.

It comes after the world's four largest tobacco firms lost a legal challenge against the Government's new plain packaging rules at the High Court on Thursday.

Pictures showing the harmful effects of smoking must now cover 65% of the front and back of every packet of cigarettes, with extra warnings on the top of the pack.

Packs containing 10 cigarettes will be prohibited under the ruling because the boxes are viewed too small to contain suitable health warnings.

Packaging of hand-rolled tobacco must also be in the same green colour and contain a minimum of 30g of tobacco.