EU bans tobacco advertising by 2006

European Union health ministers have decided to ban all tobacco advertising and sponsorship by October, 2006.

The ban is being introduced in phases, starting next year, and sports seen as global -- like Formula One motor-racing -- will be the last to have to give up tobacco money.

There's been deadlock over the issue for eight years, and the ministers reached their decision -- on a majority vote -- after twelve hours of intense negotiation.

Correspondents say it represents a series of compromises between states which wanted an early complete ban on tobacco advertising, and others which opposed the idea in whole or in part.

A spokesman for the Union's social affairs commissioner, Padraig Flynn, said he was happy with the result despite the compromises.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service