French tobacconists sabotage speed cameras in cigarette packaging protest

By Andrew Callus

PARIS, July 21 (Reuters) - France's tobacconists are protesting plans to force cigarette companies to use plain, unbranded packaging, by disabling traffic speed cameras.

The radar 'hooding' - by covering them with bin liners - is symbolic: a 'cover up' that deprives the government of money in the same way that the anti-smoking legislation will reduce tobacco sales, and tax revenue, the protesters say.

The first hooding took place over a month ago, and, by this week, speed trap cameras in as many as 20 of 97 districts had been affected, according to the group representing France's tabac bars, the Buralistes Confederation.

"It's a sign that anger is mounting," a spokesman said.

BFM TV showed a group of tobacconists, wearing white masks to hide their identities, on a night-time radar-hooding expedition.

The spokesman said three activists had been arrested this week, but that all were released without charge.

On Wednesday, a protest march is planned in Paris. A tabac shop on the march route will be stocked with plain packaged cigarettes.

Many of the tabac outlets, with their distinctive red cigar-shaped signs, are also bars and cafes. Some sell stamps and newspapers too, but they point out that a key function on their monopoly on tobacco sales is collecting tobacco tax: 14 billion euros ($15 billion) for the French Treasury every year, according to the confederation.

France is one of four EU countries that plan to follow Australia's example and impose plain cigarette packaging in May next year.

A European Union law passed last year mandates that health warnings cover 65 percent of the front and back of cigarette packs, and 50 percent of the sides.

The remaining space is available for branding, but the law allows member states to impose plain packaging rules when "justified on grounds of public health, are proportionate and do not lead to hidden barriers to trade between member states".

Philip Morris International (Xetra: A0NDBJ - news) and British American Tobacco have sued the UK government over its plan to require plain packaging, arguing that it would rob them of their intellectual property and restrict trade.

($1 = 0.9131 euros) (Additional reporting by Martinne Geller in London; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)