Tobacco Directive: Preventing young from starting deadly habit

Preventing young people from starting to smoke is the main aim of an update of European rules on tobacco products agreed by the Parliament. With 700,000 deaths a year, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the EU. Even though the number of smokers in EU is falling, one in four Europeans still smokes, while 94% of smokers are hooked before they turn 25. Linda McAvan, a British member of the S&D group, is in charge of steering the proposal through Parliament.

What is at stake? It is not about banning smoking, but about making it less attractive to young people. This is why, on 8 October, MEPs approved a draft law with measures such as health warnings covering 65% of tobacco products’ packs and a progressive ban on small packs and the use of flavourings in tobacco products.

E-cigarettes, which can help people to quit smoking, should be regulated, but not be subject to the same rules as medicinal products, unless they claim curative or preventive properties, according to MEPs.

The European parliament adopted its position in first reading on 8 October, granting McAvan a mandate to negotiate these provisions with member state ministers in the Council.

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