in december 1999, the independent online reported that gunston, but also brands like john player international filter, camel plain and gitanes could be outlawed if the manufacturer would not lower the tar content in the afromentioned brands. the manufacturers had three months to comply with the regulation changes, and eventually complied. the limits on the amount of tar in cigarettes were said to be in line with the world health organization recommendations of 1999, which stipulate that 15 mg of tar and 1,5 mg of nicotine should be the maximum. after two or three years these limits were to be reduced to 12 mg of tar and 1,2 mg of nicotine.