EU to phase out tobacco advertising despite ruling

The European Commission is to press ahead with legislation to phase out tobacco advertising and sponsorship inside the union despite losing a landmark case in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg last week.

The judges ruled that parts of the legislation, agreed by EU governments and the European parliament two years ago and due to take effect from next July, went beyond the powers the union had been given by its treaties. Rather than strike out only the offending measures, …