Italy fines BAT, Amazon over heated tobacco ads
Neither BAT Italia nor Amazon.it -- the Italian branch of the US giant implicated as the online seller -- responded to requests for comment.
Signage is pictured on the front of the headquarters quarters of British American Tobacco at Temple Place in central London on 17 January 2017. British American Tobacco agreed on 17 January 2017 to pay almost 50 billion USD for control of US peer Reynolds American in a move which targets the lucrative United States market and the fast-growing e-cigarette sector. Picture: AFP
ROME - Italy's competition authority on Wednesday fined British American Tobacco's Italian division six million euros ($6.4 million) and Amazon one million euros for misleading advertising of a heated tobacco product.
The AGCM watchdog said the companies advertised BAT's Glo Hyper X2 and Glo Hyper Air devices without making clear "information about the tobacco / nicotine consumption connected to the use of these devices and the prohibition of their sale to minors".
It said the products were marketed "as simple electronic devices and mere design objects", with adverts focusing on the aesthetics and ignoring the fact they involve consuming tobacco.
"This is seriously misleading conduct which induces the customer to buy a product that poses health risks and is banned for minors," the authority said.
Neither BAT Italia nor Amazon.it -- the Italian branch of the US giant implicated as the online seller -- responded to requests for comment.
The fine came after the watchdog launched an investigation in April 2023.