CTC responds to new legislation passed in Parliament
Saturday, 22 February 2014 07:47
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Ceylon Tobacco Company Plc (CTC) yesterday issued its formal response to the Tobacco Products (Labeling and Packaging) Regulations No. 01 of 2012 published by the Minister of Health in the Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 1770/15 dated 8 August 2012 as Amended.
CTC said the regulations together with the amendments were presented to the Parliament by the Honourable Minister of Health and were approved by Parliament on 19 February 2014. The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act No. 27 of 2006 requires the Minister to table any regulations made under the Act before Parliament after 30 days from publication of such regulation in the Gazette, as a mandatory procedural step.
CTC has challenged these Regulations in the Court of Appeal. The hearing has been concluded and the Court of Appeal has now reserved its final judgment for 12 May 2014. Implementation of the Regulations has been stayed pursuant to an interim order issued by the Supreme Court on 20 September 2013.
“We confirm that the interim order issued by the Supreme Court will remain in force and approval of the Regulations by Parliament will not prevent the Court of Appeal from determining the validity of the Regulations. Hence, CTC is not required to comply with the said Regulations at this stage until a decision is made by Court. CTC will continue to produce and supply cigarettes to the market as usual without any changes to its current packs,” the statement by CTC added.
