Tobacco industry mounts legal challenge against scientific report

The British tobacco industry is launching a High Court challenge to the March 1998 report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH), which advises the government on smoking issues.

Four tobacco companies-British American Tobacco, Gallaher, Imperial Tobacco, and Rothmans-(UK)claim that many of the report's recommendations are unsubstantiated and flawed because the committee failed to consult not only the industry but experts in other fields whose views would have been relevant.

The companies have filed court papers, seeking leave to bring an application for judicial …