Breath of fresh air for Brits as Brexit means minty cigarette ban is scrapped
EU plans to axe fags because of their 'pleasant flavour' to be chucked out as part of widespread review of Brussels bureaucracy
The ban on menthol cigarettes due to come into force in 2020 is set to be scrapped after Britain voted to leave the EU, The Sun has learnt.
Whitehall insiders say the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive that slapped the draconian ban on minty cigs because their “pleasant flavour” will be chucked out as part of a widespread review of Brussels bureaucracy.
Last night the Department of Health told The Sun: “This is one of the many areas that the Government will want to consider carefully as part of the process of leaving the EU.”
Our revelation comes just a week after the government’s long awaited Obesity Strategy was watered down with a planned ban on TV ads on junk food being canned.
Last night a source suggested that meddling rules on cigarettes sent down by hated EU judges was also on the list of “nanny state” measures the new government will review.
Related Stories
The news was welcomed by campaigners with Christopher Snowden, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, saying: “Brexit offers a great opportunity to get rid of unnecessary and meddlesome EU regulations.”
“Bans on menthol cigarettes, packs of ten and various types e-cigarette fluid never had any serious justification.
“Even David Cameron said he couldn’t understand why the EU wants smokers to to buy more cigarettes.”
He added: “A great repeal bill should be drawn up and crazy laws like this should be on it.”
Brussels banned menthol cigarettes because they believed their “pleasant flavour” could attract people to take up smoking.
British legislation meaning that all cigarettes will be sold in standardised packaging has already come into force and was last night unlikely to be repealed.