In a referral order dated 15 May 2019, the interim relief judge of Le Mans ruled in favor of the Comité National Contre le Tabagisme (CNCT), a public organization whose mission is to ensure compliance with tobacco control legislation, to prohibit Philip Morris Product and Ducati to make or display any reference to Philip Morris’ Mission Winnow branding during the French motorcycle Grand Prix, as well as including it in any related communication related to the event.

According to the referral order, the CNCT stated in their reasoning for legal action that:

In a referral order dated 15 May 2019, the interim relief judge of Le Mans ruled in favor of the Comité National Contre le Tabagisme (CNCT), a public organization whose mission is to ensure compliance with tobacco control legislation, to prohibit Philip Morris Product and Ducati to make or display any reference to Philip Morris’ Mission Winnow branding during the French motorcycle Grand Prix, as well as including it in any related communication related to the event.

According to the referral order, the CNCT stated in their reasoning for legal action that:

On 1 May 2019, Canadian Minister of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced the adoption of comprehensive plain packaging regulations for tobacco packaging and products, effective from 9 November 2019 at manufacturer level and 7 February 2020 at retail level.

The Decree 806, to give effect to Law No 19.723 dated 21 December 2018, was adopted by the Ministry of Public Health on 29 April 2019. This regulation will enter into force twelve months after the adoption of Law No 19.723.

The Ministry of Public Health identified the necessity to adopt complementary measures in relation to the health warnings and packaging of tobacco products. These new regulations take into consideration the successful examples of Australia, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.