Press Release: European Commission takes further action to prevent smoking and improve tobacco control

The European Commission adopted a proposal on 17 June 2002 for a Council Recommendation on the 'Prevention of Smoking and on Initiatives to Improve Tobacco Control'. The proposal specifically addresses a series of measures which will complement the EU law in place. They include: reducing the availability of tobacco products to children and adolescents, reducing the indiscriminate promotion of tobacco products, monitoring the promotion activities of the tobacco industry and improving the protection of non-smokers from the effects of passive smoking.