The new guidelines, which have come into force over the past few weeks, see the country's second-biggest magazine retailer discriminate against titles featuring scantily clad women on their covers.
However, Ian Locks, the chief executive of the PPA, said: "We understand that a retailer might not want to stock a particular magazine but when they start to dictate what is acceptable then it's the thin end of a very dangerous wedge. I think we are justifiably concerned."
A Tesco spokesman defended the move and said: "We want to stock the widest range of magazines possible but we have a duty to our customers to not stock magazines that they may find inappropriate. Publishers know what our requirements are and are able to meet them. Whether they bag their titles or change their covers entirely is up to them."
Publishers have so far been willing to co-operate with Tesco's demands and the retailer has not had to refuse to stock any title.
