27/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - Philip Morris challenges EU tobacco directive. Cigarette company Philip Morris International (PMI) announced on Friday 27 June that it will be appealing at the European Court of Justice against the new EU directive on the sale of tobacco products that was introduced on 3 April 2014 to harmonise rules on the composition of cigarettes, packaging, cigarette sales, the notification of new products, a ban on tobacco and the sale of electronic cigarettes. PMI says it has already lodged an appeal with the English courts, which proved a rapid and effective forum for private plaintiffs and hopes the case will be dealt with as rapidly at the European Court of Justice. PMI is, however, preparing for the long-haul because it says the Court of Justice proceedings may take two to three years. (LC)