This will be a week of truth for the traceability system and security feature for tobacco products. On Tuesday 28 November, the European Parliament's committee on the environment and public health (ENVI) will vote on an objection proposal drafted by Piernicola Pedicini (EFDD, Italy). The next day the member states are due to give their opinion (by written procedure) on the new technical standards.
Directive 2014/40/EU provides for the implementation of a European system for identifying and monitoring the legal supply chain. It also provides for a security feature to detect illegal tobacco products by May 2019 for cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco, and by May 2024 for other tobacco products (see EUROPE 11859).
The draft EFDD resolution criticises the criteria retained for assessing the independence of unique identifier issuers, suppliers of storage services, anti-tamper devices and their subcontractors. In order to avoid any financial pressure from the tobacco industry, the European Commission's initial proposal reportedly suggested that third parties not generate more than 20% of their global annual turnover via goods and services provided to the tobacco sector. According to a source close to the file, the proposal currently on the member states' table is reported to retain a ceiling of 10% before conclusion of the contract and 20% maximum after conclusion. The resolution drafted by Pedicini on behalf of the EFDD Group wants this ratio to be brought to 0%.
Despite a point being planned on the agenda, the main interested party did not come to defend their point of view at the ENVI committee vote the day before. By contrast, several MEPs – like Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP, Germany) or Gilles Pargnaux (S&D, France) – clearly indicated that they would not back the rapporteur. The Commission defended a "balanced final product", stating that the new arrangements would offer total control of the supply chain and that the protocol of the WHO framework convention was respected.
According to information received by EUROPE, one of the member states most opposed to the Commission's proposals – Hungary – is reported to have already said that it will abstain during the vote. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)