Borg: New tobacco rules make ´smoking less attractive´

Major changes to the EU’s rules for tobacco products were proposed by Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, Tonio Borg, on 19 December. The proposals aim to bring tobacco legislation up-to-date and make smoking less attractive to younger people. They target manufacture, presentation and trade in tobacco products. Key elements include: A ban on tobacco products with strong flavourings, e.g. vanilla, that mask the taste of tobacco except pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos; Mandatory, pictorial health warnings covering at least 75% of the front and back of cigarette packages and roll-your-own tobacco; A continued ban on “snus” outside of Sweden;

Authorisation under pharmaceutical legislation of products containing nicotine above certain limits, e.g. e-cigarettes; Regulating cross-border distance sales of tobacco products; A new EU-wide tracking and tracing system to protect against illegal trade in tobacco products. “Tobacco products should look and taste like tobacco products,” said Borg. “This proposal ensures that attractive packaging and flavourings are not used as a marketing strategy [and that people get] the clear message that the product they buy damages their health.” The proposals respond to new scientific evidence and international developments such as the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which entered into force in 2005. The Tobacco Products Directive was last revised in 2001. The proposals are now under discussion in the European Parliament and Council. They should come into force in 2015-2016. The cost of smoking… Lives: 700 000 EU deaths linked to tobacco, every year Money: €25 billion on smoking related diseases, every year Quality of life: 50% of smokers die early and spend many years in poor health Youth: 94% of smokers start at the age below 25