BANGKOK – Philip Morris has won a temporary legal battle in its fight to keep larger health warnings off cigarette packs for sale in Thailand, The Province reports.

Late last week, a court temporarily suspended an October 2 government deadline requiring new warning labels on cigarette packs to cover 85% of the package. The current requirement is for 55%.

Bangkok-based Philip Morris spokeswoman Onanong Pratakphiriya said such warning labels were ineffective and “illogical,” since it exempts roll-your-own cigarettes, which account for nearly half of the tobacco consumed in Thailand.

A Thai court issued the injunction last Friday, which will remain in place pending a lawsuit by Philip Morris and more than 1,400 Thai retailers trying to overturn the regulation.

The legal process is expected to take more than a year. The Public Health Ministry said it would likely appeal the injunction.