Carrot protest by tobacconists

TOBACCONISTS have dumped four tonnes of carrots outside France's Socialist party headquarters to protest about plans for plain cigarette packaging.

The unusual demonstration - the carrot is supposed to resemble the red sign seen outside each tabac - comes as the Senate prepares to vote on the reform as part of a wide-ranging health bill.

From May 2016, if approved, all cigarette packets will be required to have the same shape, colour and typeface - and no branding other than the name in small, plain text at the bottom.

The idea was first implemented in Australia in 2012. Ireland and the UK have also voted in favour of the move.

Tobacconists fear it will lead to more cigarettes entering the French market from neighbouring countries. They say senators should abandon the plan and instead follow an EU directive making health warnings on packets larger.

Unions representing the buralistes already deposited carrots outside the National Assembly in March this year.

4T de Carottes déversées dvt @partisocialiste par les #buralistes en colère contre instauration paquet neutre #BFMTV pic.twitter.com/cDyxjCh7tI— Stéphane Beaugeard (@StephBeaugeard) 22 Juillet 2015