Brussels, 28/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Lobby groups affected by the EU tobacco directive have reacted to the vote at the European Parliament on 26 February (see EUROPE 11027).
CECCM. The Confederation of European Community Cigarette Manufacturers is unhappy that the concerns of small and medium-sized cigarette manufacturers were ignored in the directive. It says that it backs the Commission's legitimate public health concerns and its desire to introduce tighter regulation, but the new rules are disproportionate when compared with the desired objectives, and thus will simply encourage the black market.
FIVAPE. The French e-cigarette body is unhappy with Article 18 of the EU directive which lays down strict rules for the distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes. It says that coordinated rules are needed, but they should take account of the advantages of e-smoking over normal cigarettes, which is not the case, they claim. The obstacles placed in the way of e-smoking will simply encourage the products to be sold illegally.
EPHA. The European Public Health Alliance says that the directive will encourage people to stop smoking and discourage people from starting smoking in the future, particularly young people. The e-cigarette rules will enable ex-smokers to buy e-cigarettes of a safe and high quality, says EPHA, hoping that the directive will encourage member states to introduce tighter rules on cigarette and tobacco product control, following examples from progressive global leaders in tobacco control.
EHN. The European Heart Network is delighted with the vote at the European Parliament, which demonstrated that technical European legislation has the power to protect people's health. The new legislation could save thousands of lives from preventable disease and heart attacks caused by smoking, says EHN director Susanne Logstrup. (IL)