ITC to resume production "consequent upon favourable court order"

India's biggest cigarette maker, ITC Ltd, said it would resume production at its factories "consequent upon" a favourable court order, two weeks after it decided to shut its plants over the government's new packaging rules.

From 1 April, all cigarette makers are required to ensure 85 per cent of a cigarette pack's surface would display health warnings, as against 20 per cent earlier.

In retaliation, cigarette companies halted production. (Cigarette firms halt production over new health warning rules).

In a statement to the Indian stock exchange late yesterday, ITC, owned partly by British American Tobacco, said, "Consequent upon a high court order passed in favor of the company, the company will soon resume manufacture of cigarettes in its factories".