New EU rules on tobacco products have been judged to be valid following three separate challenges, paving the way for countries to proceed with standardised packaging.

In a ruling released today, the European Court of Justice said extensive standardisation of packaging, the future EU-wide prohibition on menthol cigarettes and the special rules for electronic cigarettes are lawful.

UKIP deputy leader and North West MEP Paul Nuttall described the ruling as a “travesty of justice.”

“Electronic cigarettes are a safer option for smokers but this ridiculous judgement may well mean that some vapers will go back to tobacco, which is plainly not to be encouraged," he said.

Wirral Globe:

North West MEP Paul Nuttall

“Millions of British consumers are using them and they could save hundreds of thousands of lives but no longer due to the EU's knuckled-headed intransigence.

“Meanwhile the court has banned menthol cigarettes on some spurious grounds that they make smoking more attractive.

"What the hell has happened to freedom of choice?

"People know that smoking is a dangerous habit and I don’t for a second believe that having menthol cigarettes on the shelves is encouraging smoking.”

The ruling follows challenges to the EU Tobacco Products Directive, which was adopted in 2014 but has been held up by a series of court cases.

The court rejected a legal challenge brought by Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, with Japan Tobacco International and Imperial Brands acting as interested parties.

The court said: "The court finds that, in providing that each unit packet and the outside packaging must carry health warnings ... the EU legislature did not go beyond the limits of what is appropriate and necessary."

The court also upheld a prohibition on menthol cigarettes, following a challenge by Poland, and tighter regulation of electronic cigarettes.

The legal challenge can now be taken no further and the directive will take effect on May 20, although there is a one-year sell-through period to allow wholesalers and retailers to sell existing stocks.

Europe's highest court was asked to rule in the judicial review applications whether the EU had misused its powers to legislate for tobacco, and whether its actions were "proportionate".

The court had to decide whether the new directive complied with European guarantees on fundamental rights and the principle of "subsidiarity" - whether decisions should be taken on a national or regional level rather than by the EU.

Today's decision means picture health warnings will have to dominate the front and back of all packaging.

The directive requires that picture warnings must cover 65% of the front and back of every packet of cigarettes, with additional warnings on the top of the pack.

It includes a ban on menthol cigarettes and "lipstick-style" packs aimed at women - all packs must have at least 20 cigarettes to leave room for health warnings.

There is also a ban on promotional statements such as "this product is free of additives" or "is less harmful than other brands".

The new rules are an attempt to cut the number of smokers across the EU by 2.4 million.

An estimated 700,000 premature deaths are caused each year and cancer charities are backing the measures.

The European Commission said the new rules will "deter young people from experimenting with, and becoming addicted to, tobacco".

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity Ash, said: "The European Court of Justice decision is no surprise: the directive is lawful and the UK is allowed to go further than the directive in standardising tobacco packs with respect to matters not harmonised by the directive.

"We await the UK court judgement, which is expected shortly, but we are optimistic that the court will confirm that the introduction of standardised packaging in the UK is lawful.

"From May 20 all packs manufactured for sale in the UK will have to be plain, standardised, in the same drab green colour with the product name on the pack in a standard font."