© PAHO, Uruguay

Uruguay's victory against Philip Morris International, a huge win for public health

12th July 2016

On 8 July, after six years of legal proceedings, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes concluded that Uruguay is within its rights to implement and enforce tobacco control legislation, specifically large graphic warnings on tobacco packs and a ban on multiple brand presentations.

The case, brought by Philip Morris International (PMI), is a further failure for the tobacco industry in its strategy of using national and international courts to try to prevent governments from adopting proven policies to protect public health and reduce the unsustainable burden of tobacco-related non-communicable diseases.