ACFO, a non-profit organisation representing the interests of vehicle operating businesses, has called for the harmonisation of the UK's complex anti-smoking rules.
The new anti-smoking legislation was first introduced in Scotland 16 months ago and has sicne been expanded to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
But problems of contradicting rules exist: for example, in Scotland it is allowed to smoke in company cars but not in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, causing problems for the fleet operators ACFO represents.
All four countries also have different requirements as to the use of "smoke-free" signs in vehicles.
ACFO also called for the government to clarify the use of the word primarily in the legislation when referring to issues of business or private use.
'It is very clear that the smoke-free legislation was ill thought out. The difference in the laws in each of the countries, the terms and conditions used in the regulations and the absence of any clear definition of the word 'primarily' all point to a confused situation,' said Julie Jenner, chairman of ACFO.
Mrs Jenner added that ACFO had not been consulted on the guidelines prior to their implementation.
The organisation met with officials from the Department of Health and reported that it has received indications that the rules will reviewed across all four countries once they have been in place for three years.
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