EC proposes big horror pictures on cigarette packs, ban on flavoured tobacco

Horrific photographs depicting the consequences of smoking, covering most of the outside of cigarette packets, along with a ban on strong flavours in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco, are the main measures proposed by the European Commission (EC) to discourage smoking.

The ban on flavouring of cigarettes is similar to one imposed by United States federal law in 2009 and depending on the final outcome of the EC proposal – expected to come into effect in 2015 or 2016 – could spell the end of the sale of cigarettes with flavours such as menthol and clove.

The EC proposals represent an update to the existing Tobacco Products Directive, which has not been revised for more than 10 years.

The proposed legislation consists of new and strengthened rules on how tobacco products can be manufactured, presented, and sold.

More specifically, it bans the use of cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco (RYO) and smokeless tobacco products with characterising flavours and makes the use of large pictorial health warnings mandatory on cigarettes and RYO. It regulates cross border internet sale and foresees technical features to combat illicit trade.

Measures are proposed for products that were not specifically regulated so far such as electronic cigarettes and herbal products for smoking. Chewing and nasal tobacco will be subject to specific labelling and ingredient regulations. The existing ban for oral tobacco (snus) shall be maintained.

Speaking on December 19 2012 after the EC adopted the proposal, European Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner Tonio Borg said: “The figures speak for themselves: tobacco kills half of its users and is highly addictive. With 70 per cent of the smokers starting before the age of 18, the ambition of today’s proposal is to make tobacco products and smoking less attractive and thus discourage tobacco initiation among young people”.

Borg said that “Consumers must not be cheated: tobacco products should look and taste like tobacco products and this proposal ensures that attractive packaging and flavourings are not used as a marketing strategy.”

The current Tobacco Products Directive dates from 2001.

Since then, significant scientific, market and international developments have taken place, the EC said.

For example, new evidence on flavourings used in tobacco products and effectiveness of health warnings has become available. Novel products such as electronic cigarettes have entered the market and recent marketing strategies involve the use of attractive packaging and flavours. At international level, the EU and all of its member states have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which entered into force in February 2005.

“As a consequence, some of the current provisions of the directive have become outdated,” the EC said.

The EC said that EU member countries also had taken different regulatory approaches resulting in a divergence between member states’ laws on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products.

The new proposal is responding to these developments and to requests from the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers as well as the Commission’s own report on the Application of the Tobacco Products Directive of 2007 and 2009, which identified potential areas for improvement, the EC said.

The proposal foresees major revisions of the current directive. It addresses in particular the following areas:

* Labelling and Packaging: All cigarette and Roll Your Own packages must contain a combined picture and text health warning covering 75 per cent of the front and the back of the package and must carry no promotional elements. The current information on tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide, which is perceived as misleading, is replaced by an information message on the side of the pack that tobacco smoke contains more than 70 substances causing cancer. EU countries will remain free to introduce plain packaging in duly justified cases.

* Ingredients: An electronic reporting format for ingredients and emissions will be introduced. The proposal foresees a prohibition for cigarettes, roll your own tobacco and smokeless tobacco that have “characterising flavours” and a prohibition of products with increased toxicity and addictiveness.

* Smokeless tobacco: The ban on oral tobacco products (snus) is maintained, except for Sweden which has an exemption. All smokeless tobacco products must carry health warnings on the main surfaces of the package and products with characterising flavours cannot be sold. Novel tobacco products require prior notification.

* Extension of the scope of the Directive: Nicotine Containing Products (e.g. electronic cigarettes) below a certain nicotine threshold are allowed on the market, but must feature health warnings; above this threshold such products are only allowed if authorised as medicinal products, like nicotine replacement therapies. Herbal cigarettes will have to carry health warnings.

* Cross border distance sales: A notification for internet retailers and age verification mechanism are foreseen to ensure that tobacco products are not sold to children and adolescents.

* Illicit trade: A tracking and tracing system and security features (e.g. holograms) are foreseen to ensure that only products complying with the directive are sold in the EU.

The proposal was adopted by the EC following extensive consultation of stakeholders including a public consultation which generated 85 000 responses, the Commission said. During its preparation, a thorough impact assessment has been carried out, evaluating economic, social and health effects of several policy options under consideration. Several external studies were commissioned during the process, according to the EC.

As a next step, the proposal will be discussed in the European Parliament and in the EU Council of Ministers. It is expected to be adopted in 2014. It would come into effect from 2015-2016.

In the US, on September 22 2009 a ban on cigarettes containing certain characterising flavours went into effect. The ban, authorised by the US Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce smoking in the US.

The FDA’s ban on certain characterising flavoured cigarettes highlights the importance of reducing the number of children who start to smoke, and who become addicted to dangerous tobacco products.

According to the American act, “a cigarette or any of its component parts (including the tobacco, filter, or paper) shall not contain, as a constituent (including a smoke constituent) or additive, an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or an herb or spice, including strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, or coffee, that is a characterizing flavor of the tobacco product or tobacco smoke”.

(Photo: Vjeran Lisjak/sxc.hu)

Related stories:

Bulgarian Parliament’s economy committee rejects move to ease total smoking ban

Bulgarian Parliament’s health committee rejects reversal of smoking ban

Protesters walk backwards to oppose backtrack on Bulgaria’s smoking ban: Photo Gallery

Bulgarian PM Borissov firmly against lifting smoking ban, ruling party MPs divided

Plain packaging and its unintended consequences

Bulgarian hoteliers and restaurateurs threaten civil disobedience unless smoking ban laws changed

Battle lines drawn as Bulgaria approaches rethink on smoking ban

Bulgarian PM hints at backtrack on smoking ban but Health Minister stands firm

Large turnout in Bulgarian capital for protest against full smoking ban in restaurants and bars

Bulgaria’s restaurants and bars invest in keeping smokers outdoors warm in the face of winter

Close to 20 000 leva in fines imposed since Bulgaria’s smoking ban came into effect, Health Minister says 

Bulgaria’s smoking ban costing state coffers close to 230M leva, restaurant owners claim

 

Comments

comments

The Sofia Globe staff

The Sofia Globe - the Sofia-based fully independent English-language news and features website, covering Bulgaria, the Balkans and the EU. Sign up to subscribe to sofiaglobe.com's daily bulletin through the form on our homepage. https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32709292