France

In a civil ruling, the Angers Court of Appeal ordered Philip Morris Products SA, based in Neuchâtel (Switzerland), to pay compensation for the prejudice sustained by the French National Committee for Tobacco Control (CNCT) because of the infringement of the French law prohibiting any sponsorship or patronage operations carried out by tobacco manufacturers. Cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris had signed a contract with the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati. Under the agreement, the team would be called “Mission Winnow Ducati” and the Mission Winnow brand, registered by Philip Morris, would be displayed on various media. The team subsequently participated in Moto Grand Prix of Le Mans in May 2019.

This decision is a major victory for the fight against smoking and public health by preventing the return of the tobacco industry to motorsports.