Informant38

The 15-nation European Union on Monday outlawed tobacco ads in newspapers and magazines, on the Internet and at international sporting events beginning in 2005.

The new restrictions were approved by 13 EU nations, which was enough to push through the bill drawn up by the EU's executive Commission after a court struck down an earlier ban. Britain and Germany opposed them.

The rules already were approved by the EU parliament.

"This is another nail in the coffin of the tobacco industry," EU Health Commissioner David Byrne said.