Press Release: Tobacco products: towards bigger health warnings and ban of strong flavourings

After years in the making, the European Commission has adopted its proposal to revise the Tobacco Products Directive. 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.

Moreover, measures are proposed for products that were not specifically regulated so far, such as e-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.

ESO: Background information: EU to ban menthol cigarettes, impose scary pictures http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-to-ban-menthol-cigarettes-impose-scary-pictures/

European Commission: MEMO/12/1005: Questions and answers: Towards a new EU law on Tobacco Products http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-1005_en.htm

European Commission: SPEECH/12/968: Tobacco Products Directive: Making tobacco products and smoking less attractive http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-12-968_en.htm

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