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MEPs vote on anti-tobacco rules aimed at young smokers | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Euro MPs will vote shortly on new measures aimed at putting young people off smoking, including bigger health warnings on cigarette packets and restrictions on electronic cigarettes. | |
Under the draft legislation from the European Commission e-cigarettes would become a medicinal product. | |
Menthol cigarettes could be banned, along with other flavoured tobacco. | |
Cheaper packs of 10 as well as slim cigarettes - marketed mainly to women - would no longer be sold. | |
It is the European Parliament's first reading of a draft tobacco directive which could become law in 2014. There has been intense lobbying of MEPs by the tobacco industry and health campaigners. | |
The proposals also include a ban on words like "light", "mild" and "low tar", deemed to be misleading, and a ban on chewing tobacco - called snus - although Sweden will retain its exemption. | |
E-cigarette controversy | |
The UK has already said e-cigarettes will be licensed as medicine from 2016. | |
Sales of the tobacco-free devices have boomed worldwide since bans on smoking in public places were introduced. | |
But campaigners say their growing popularity is dangerous. | But campaigners say their growing popularity is dangerous. |
They argue that e-cigarettes undermine years of anti-smoking efforts and could be especially damaging to children and non-smokers. | They argue that e-cigarettes undermine years of anti-smoking efforts and could be especially damaging to children and non-smokers. |
The devices are designed to replicate smoking behaviour without the use of tobacco. They turn nicotine and other chemicals into a vapour that is inhaled. | The devices are designed to replicate smoking behaviour without the use of tobacco. They turn nicotine and other chemicals into a vapour that is inhaled. |
Manufacturers of e-cigarettes say the products have the potential to save millions of lives and should not be restricted because they could dramatically reduce smoking-related diseases. | Manufacturers of e-cigarettes say the products have the potential to save millions of lives and should not be restricted because they could dramatically reduce smoking-related diseases. |
Anti-smoking campaigners say young people especially are being tricked into taking up smoking. | |
"Tobacco products should look and taste like tobacco products," said EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, presenting the proposals. | "Tobacco products should look and taste like tobacco products," said EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, presenting the proposals. |
The current requirement for health warnings on packets is 30% minimum coverage on one side and 40% on the other. | The current requirement for health warnings on packets is 30% minimum coverage on one side and 40% on the other. |
The new packaging requirements would also apply to roll-your-own tobacco. | The new packaging requirements would also apply to roll-your-own tobacco. |
The legislation would allow member states the option of plain, non-branded packaging "in duly justified cases". | The legislation would allow member states the option of plain, non-branded packaging "in duly justified cases". |
Healthcare costs | Healthcare costs |
The Commission says packets must be big enough to ensure full visibility for the health warnings, so the recommendation is at least 20 cigarettes per pack. | The Commission says packets must be big enough to ensure full visibility for the health warnings, so the recommendation is at least 20 cigarettes per pack. |
Fourteen EU states already have 20 as the minimum, four stipulate a minimum of 19, and in the UK and Italy the minimum is 10. It is argued that bigger, more expensive packets are less attractive to young smokers. | Fourteen EU states already have 20 as the minimum, four stipulate a minimum of 19, and in the UK and Italy the minimum is 10. It is argued that bigger, more expensive packets are less attractive to young smokers. |
The Commission says almost 700,000 Europeans die from smoking-related illnesses each year - equal to the population of Frankfurt or Palermo. The associated costs for healthcare in the EU are estimated to be at least 25.3bn euros (£20.6bn; $33.4bn) annually. | The Commission says almost 700,000 Europeans die from smoking-related illnesses each year - equal to the population of Frankfurt or Palermo. The associated costs for healthcare in the EU are estimated to be at least 25.3bn euros (£20.6bn; $33.4bn) annually. |
In 2009‐10, sales of tobacco products generated nearly £9bn ($14.6bn; 11bn euros) in taxes for the UK government, about 2% of all receipts from taxation, a government report said. | In 2009‐10, sales of tobacco products generated nearly £9bn ($14.6bn; 11bn euros) in taxes for the UK government, about 2% of all receipts from taxation, a government report said. |