Cigarette Companies will not call cigarettes "light" and "mild" from their brands because they risked misleading smokers.

The setback for the tobacco industry comes as Parliament's health select committee is expected today to support a petition to ban tobacco and cigarette displays in shops.

Adrian Sparrow, the commission's director of fair trading, said that "light" cigarettes tended to be inhaled more deeply or more often, nullifying the effect of reduced toxins.

Three cigarette brands British American Tobacco, Philip Morris and Imperial Tobacco have pledged to stop using the "light" and "mild" terms after investigations by the commission.

"If you smoke light or mild cigarettes believing these to be less harmful to your health, you are probably fooling yourself," Sparrow added.

As scientists said there are no safe cigarettes, all cigarettes only can harm people’s health but not protect it.

Brendan Baker, Ministry of Health senior analyst of tobacco control also said that terms such as "mild" or "light" on other consumer products were proven to imply a reduced risk.

But three smokers of "mild" cigarettes in Christchurch's Cathedral Square said that they know that "mild" cigarettes are no safer, but they preferred the taste.

Stephen Rajasigamany, Philip Morris spokesman, said that the company would stop using the "light" and "mild" descriptions on its packets from October 17. The company wanted the Government to regulate the use of cigarette descriptions so they could be applied equally to all tobacco firms.

Scientists are sure that a ban on cigarette and tobacco displays would help people trying to quit smoking.