The possibility of reversing the Tobacco Act emerged in a reply to parliamentary question to the department of health, which said that given "the challenges facing business competition and costs", it would give further consideration to "the policy on display of tobacco products and sales from tobacco vending machines".
Legislation to ban cigarette vending machines from pubs and remove tobacco displays from shops and supermarkets was passed in the last few months of the previous Labour administration, but has been blocked after a campaign from cigarette manufacturers who threatened to seek a judicial review.
The ban on displaying tobacco products would be introduced in stages, starting with large shops in 2011 and finishing with other shops in 2013.
A Populus poll for the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN), which opposes the ban, suggested the public were not inclined to back the move. (pi)