US tobacco giant Philip Morris International has lost an international dispute surrounding the sale of cigarettes in Uruguay and must continue to cover packs sold in the South American country with graphic warning labels and restrict its branding practices. In a televised address, President Tabare Vazquez, an oncologist who had spearheaded the anti-smoking campaign, said the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes rejected a challenge by Philip Morris to his government’s strict anti-smoking policies, calling it a victory for efforts to protect public health and his country’s national sovereignty, AP reported. PMI had challenged Uruguay’s requirement that graphic warning labels cover 80% of the front and back of cigarette packages and that each brand only have a single product presentation. The tobacco company’s Vice President and General Counsel Marc Firestone, said they would respect the arbitral tribunal’s decision.
