Brussels, 21/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - Linda McAvan (PES, UK), who is the rapporteur on the “tobacco” directive, fully supports the European Commission's proposals and will not allow herself to be influenced by pressure groups. During an exchange of views between members of the committee on the environment, health and food safety at the European Parliament, in Brussels on 21 March, McAvan was determined to defend the well-being of citizens and not to flinch before the arguments put forward by the tobacco industry. She said it goes without saying that there will be court cases. That is only to be expected. However, she added, it is necessary to continue defending the public's interests.
Speaking of the need to update the current directive, which goes back to 2001, the European Commission representative underlined the EU's obligation to keep to the commitments undertaken with the signing of the 2005 WHO framework convention on tobacco control, and to have a coherent body of law. Furthermore, economic losses linked to a decline in tobacco sales cannot be an argument for preventing anti-tobacco legislation, as that deficit must be offset by savings made in health care, the official said, underlining the fact that the budget for treating tobacco-related diseases is huge. McAvan believes young people are the favoured target of the tobacco industry, which has marketed products that are attractive not only in substance (aromas and sugar additives) but also in form (attractive packaging of different shapes and colours). The Commission suggests that at least 75% of cigarette packaging should be covered with health warnings, but it must be clear that member states have the power to require still more of the packet to carry warnings, or to propose neutral packaging, McAvan said. On the subject of electronic cigarettes, it will be necessary to consider the text very carefully. Initially conceived as an intermediary product that should allow smokers to gradually kick the smoking habit, electronic cigarettes must not, as a fashion fad, become an alternative among young people, she commented. This opinion was shared by many MEPs who are calling for balanced provisions on electronic cigarettes.
On the whole, most MEPs were in favour of a robust text, if not more ambitious than that proposed by the Commission. For example, Satu Hassi (Greens, Finland) and Martina Anderson (United Left, UK) support compulsory neutral packaging and the ban on all added aromas and flavourings without exception. Some MEPs - Anna Rosbach (ECR, Denmark), Peter Liese (EPP, Germany) - also deplored the lack of coherence within the EP which, on one hand, defends tougher EU legislation on tobacco products while, on the other, brings subsidies back in for tobacco producers under the CAP reform. Finally, the question of the illegal tobacco trade was raised on several occasions. According to the tobacco industry, an over-severe directive would bring about an explosion of sales in illegal and counterfeit cigarettes. This argument must not serve as a pretext, however. According to Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP, Germany) half the production of cigarettes already supplies illegal channels. McAvan said current brands are already easily faked. Some speakers suggested extending the aroma ban to cigarillos, stepping up prevention campaigns among young people, especially in schools, and ensuring greater severity in relation to advertising panels at points of sale. (IL/transl.jl)