Parliament narrowly voted approval of a law to strip branding from cigarette packaging and require manufacturers to adopt a unitary pack design from May 2016, Euronews reported.

Legal action by tobacco companies is possible, the French-based multilingual broadcaster said on its website. Introduced by Health Minister Marisol Touraine, plain-packaging aims to discourage youth from taking up the smoking habit and reduce smoking, the main cause of death in France, Euronews said.
France joins Ireland and the United Kingdom among European Union countries opting for plain packaging in addition to 65 per cent health warnings on packaging that will be introduced throughout the EU next May.