Phil Bennion MEP Reply (Lib Dem)

[Adam78]

I know I'm just a newbie but I've read a bit about what's happening and I've watched vttv etc, so I understand how important it is at the moment for the vaping community to be heard.

So I decided to do my bit & wrote to all of my MEPs, this is my first response.

Dear Mr *****, (adam78)

Thank you for your email.

The Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC) lays down rules governing the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products as well as various forms of smokeless tobacco. The Directive can be viewed here:
eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32001L0037:EN:HTML

On 19th December 2012 the European Commission sent a proposal for a revised Directive to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. The Parliament and Council are jointly responsible for deciding on EU legislation in this area. The European Commission's press release following the announcement of its proposal can be read here:
europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1391_en.htm

The Commission's proposal is a response to developments in the tobacco industry and to tobacco products as well as the Commission's own report on the Application of the Tobacco Products Directive of 2007 and 2009, which identified potential areas for improvement. I understand that there was also extensive consultation of stakeholders including a public consultation which generated 85,000 responses.

With regard to electronic cigarettes I acknowledge that they can have a positive effect on people attempting to give up smoking as well as enjoyed by individuals seeking an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. I understand that the proposal permits e-cigarettes below a certain nicotine threshold to be allowed on the market. I have looked at the ASH UK briefing on Electronic Cigarettes from January 2013 and I was aware that in 2010 the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the UK consulted on whether to bring all nicotine containing products with the exception of tobacco and tobacco products within the medicines licensing regime, but no conclusion has been made.

The Commission's proposal also includes the labelling and packaging of tobacco products. Current information on tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide could be replaced by an information message on the side of the pack that tobacco smoke contains more than 70 substances causing cancer if the proposal goes through.

The proposals will firstly come to the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee. I am not a member of ENVI, but my Liberal Democrat MEP colleague who is informs me that he is still examining the proposals and looking at the evidence to decide which amendments he's putting in.

A public hearing on tobacco products took place on 25th February 2013 in the European Parliament. The European Commissioner responsible for Heath and Consumer Policy, Tonio Borg and Ireland's Health Minister, Hames Reilly (Ireland currently hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of European Union) attended the event. During the hearing institutional representatives, main stakeholders, health and other experts exchanged views on the subject. Further information can be found here:
www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/envi/home.html

I understand that a report will be drafted by the European Parliament's rapporteur and this will be voted on in ENVI on 10th - 11th July 2013. I have received other correspondence from members of my constituency regarding this issue. My Lib Dem colleague on ENVI is aware of these and I am continuing to liaise with his office regarding this matter.

Please be assured that I am continuing to monitor this situation and with Parliament only at the preparatory phase there is still plenty of time to raise any issues.

Thank you again for your correspondence.

Yours sincerely,

Phil Bennion MEP