European Parliament votes to tighten tobacco control laws in Europe

The European Parliament (EP) voted this month (8 October 2013) to tighten tobacco regulations in Europe.

The vote followed a proposal from the European Commission, known as the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which suggested a number of measures to regulate tobacco products to protect public health – specifically aiming to reduce the attractiveness of smoking for young people.

Although the EP voted to support the TPD, a number of measures in the initial proposal were significantly diluted. 

The EP agreed:

• 65% coverage of pictorial health warnings –although 75% coverage had been proposed in the TPD
• a ban on characterising flavours (such as menthol or banana) – but with an 8 year delay on implementation
• a ban on slim cigarette packs ─ although they rejected a ban on slim cigarettes themselves

The EP rejected the proposal to regulate electronic cigarettes as medicinal products.

President of the ERS, Professor Peter Barnes, said: “We are pleased that the European Parliament has voted to tighten tobacco control laws, although disappointed that some measures have been diluted. We believe the vote this week is a positive step, leading to further negotiations with the Council and we hope for the legislation to be adopted before the May 2014 European elections.”