On Wednesday 29 June the European Commission proposed a ban on flavoured heated tobacco products in the European Union. In this way, it intends to honour the commitment to ensure a high level of health protection, particularly for young people.
The proposal for a delegated act aims to update the directive (2014/40) which regulates the production, presentation and sale of tobacco products.
In accordance with Article 2(28) of that Directive, the Commission’s proposal to end the ability of Member States to grant exemptions to flavoured heated tobacco products is motivated by a substantial change in circumstances.
Sales of these products have increased by almost 10% in at least five Member States and the volume of sales of these products at retail level exceeds 2.5% of the total sales of tobacco products in the EU. These figures come from a report of 15 June, which the Commission is legally obliged to present in the event of a significant change in any of the specific tobacco products.
The 29 June proposal, in line with the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (see EUROPE 12891/15), should contribute to the goal of achieving a tobacco-free generation.
According to the procedure that applies to delegated acts, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have the possibility to examine the delegated directive. The act shall be deemed to be adopted if, within a period of two months, the co-legislators do not express an opinion or objection. The delegated directive would then enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The deadline for transposition by the Member States is set at eight months, with a three-month transition period.
Link to the proposed directive: https://aeur.eu/f/2ez
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/2f2 (Original version in French by Emilie Vanderhulst)