In rare move, Japan Tobacco Inc. will challenge on Tuesday a government plan to introduce smoking restrictions.

At a meeting of a government advisory panel, JT will promote "the need for balanced, appropriate regulations."

The nation's tobacco monopoly said this will be the first time it will directly raise objections to regulations centering on health issues at such a meeting, though it has previously offered its views on cigarette tax rates and underage smoking.

JT, along with the world's largest cigarette company, Philip Morris & Co. of the United States, will be represented at the meeting of the health ministry's panel on adult diseases.

The panel decided in September to set numerical targets to reduce the proportion of smokers in the population.

At Tuesday's meeting, JT representatives will state the firm's basic stance that "tobacco is a luxury item and the decision of whether or not to smoke is up to the individual to make based on information regarding the impact on and risks to health."

The company will emphasize that by 2008 it will equip all cigarette vending machines with a gadget to identify legal-age smokers to prevent access to people under 20 years old. It will also tell the meeting that it has promoted the separation of smoking and nonsmoking environments, JT officials said.

On the health hazards of inhaling secondhand smoke, JT will argue that, based on about 50 research studies, evaluations have varied and that there is no consensus on the impact.

It will emphasize a report that found no significant difference in health care costs between smokers and nonsmokers, according to the officials.

JT will urge the government not to set "reckless restrictions."