TPD compliance could cost €200 million

British American Tobacco expects compliance with the new European Commission’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) to cost it between €100 million and €200 million during the next two years as it alters machinery to meet new packaging rules, according to a Reuters story.

The TPD—directive 2014/40/EU of April 3, 2014—which governs the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 29. It repeals Directive 2001/37/EC.

The new directive is due to enter into force on May 20, and member states are required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive by May 20, 2016.

However, member states may allow tobacco products, which are not in compliance with the new directive but which are manufactured in accordance with the previous directive and distributed before May 20, 2016, to be placed on the market until May 20, 2017.