EU strikes deal on tough new anti-tobacco rules

By Charlie Dunmore BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union diplomats approved new anti-tobacco legislation on Wednesday, including larger health warnings on cigarette packets and the bloc's first rules on electronic cigarettes. "Agreement on the tobacco directive is a big step towards a healthier and more prosperous society," said Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, the health minister of Lithuania, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. The deal was struck after governments and the European Parliament resolved a dispute over how tightly to regulate the market for e-cigarettes. Some analysts predict e-cigarette sales will eclipse the $700 billion-a-year market for ordinary cigarettes in 10 years.