Brussels, 27/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Health Council will examine, Thursday in Luxembourg, the new Directive on tobacco aimed at strengthening and specifying the present rules. Introduced will be a maximum content of 10 mg per cigarette for tar, instead of 12 mg until now, and two other maximum levels: 1 mg for nicotine and 10 mg for carbon monoxide. These values should apply to all the products produced in the European Union, that is to say including products destined for export, as of 31 December 2003. Greece will benefit from a specific dispensation until 2006 due to a special variety of tobacco grown in this country and especially appreciated in certain Mediterranean and Eastern third countries. The surface covered by the warnings should cover at least 25% of the most visible face of the packet. The use of the terms "light", "ultra light" and "mild" will be banned. The Presidency hopes to reach a political agreement in view of the imminent adoption of a common position on this text, taking up some amendments from the European Parliament and notably the addition of the phrase "creates dependency" on the tobacco products for oral use and the non-combusting products. EUROPE recalls that during the first reading, last 14 May, the Parliament also called for a ban on the use of ammonia that has carcinogenic effects, but is used by the cigarette manufacturers to increase dependency. It hopes that the warning cover at least 35% of the front side and 45% of the rear side of the packet (see EUROPE of 15 June, p.13). During the preparatory work at ministerial level several Member States expressed reservations on (1) the maximum content (Finland and the United Kingdom) and (2) the enforcement of these standards to exported cigarettes (Germany, Greece and Austria). The latter point is also contested by the industry asserting that it could lead to a relocation of production to third countries.
The Commission will also inform the Council on the state of progress of the WHO work in view of the first negotiation session, which should take place next October, in view of the drawing up of a framework convention on the fight against tobacco.
Furthermore, the Council should adopt a resolution on the determinant of health: the text underlines the importance of a new strategy with regard to the risk factors linked to the way of life (tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, physical activity, stress, addiction, environment etc.). It invites to pursue the work in a coherent and systematic manner in the framework of the existing programmes, in particular with regard to tobacco, nutrition and alcohol.
Conclusions should also be adopted over the future if the European medicine evaluation and monitoring system, the importance of the therapeutic added value of medicines, innovation and research, the rational use of medicines, which are subject that will be broached during the Lisbon Conference on medicines and health (11-12 April 2000). The Council conclusions should especially insist on the promotion of research and innovation.
The Commission will present to the Council its proposals concerning the next Community action programme in the field of health (2001-2006) that concerns three priorities: - improvement of information and knowledge in terms of health; - rapid reaction to threats; - action concerning health determinants. This presentation will be followed by an initial exchange of views.
During the lunch, the Ministers should raise the follow-up to the European Council in Feira concerning (1) the integration of requirements in terms of health into other policies, (2) the Commission White Paper of food safety and (3) the Commission Communication on the precautionary principal. The Council should also look at the following points:
- quality and safety of transplants: the Presidency will inform the Ministers on the results of a experts Conference on transplants;
- HIV self diagnostic kits (on request from the Belgian delegation);
- follow-up of "Sidex" case (another Belgian request);
- errors during intravenous injections administered in emergency (another issue raised by the Belgian Minister Magda Aelvoet);
- risks linked to use of mobile phones: Dutch delegation wants to draw the Ministers attention to the need to inform consumers of the risks connected to GSMs;
- the follow-up to the Kohll and Decker cases concerning treatment abroad (Dutch request);
- the epidemiological situation of the variant of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (on request from the French delegation).