Non-standard demonstrations by French retailers

Tobacconists took to the streets of French cities on Tuesday to protest against the proposed introduction of standardized cigarette packaging, according to an RFI story.

The measure, which is part of the government’s new health bill, is due to be discussed in the Senate on Monday.

The planned introduction of standardized cigarette packaging was initially dropped by the Senate on July 22 when it adopted an EU directive aimed in part at increasing the size of health warnings.

Under the EU directive, graphic cigarette health warnings are required to cover 65 percent of the main surfaces of cigarette packs, up from 40 percent under current legislation.

But Health Minister Marisol Touraine later announced the reintroduction of the standardized packaging provision, a move that sparked Tuesday’s demonstrations.

In more than 80 cities throughout France, hundreds of tobacconists were said to have gathered to oppose the new law.

In Paris more than four tonnes of carrots (a reference to the orange symbols above the entrances to French tobacco shops) were dumped near the finance ministry; in the southern towns of Albi, Montauban and Auch, tobacconists camped in front of administrative offices; and in the north-eastern region of Alsace protesters covered up more than 80 town entrance signs.