Public consultation Tobacco Products Directive

[kate]

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC). A wide range of views is sought on factors such as labelling and health warnings on tobacco packets and additives used as tobacco ingredients.

All interested parties are invited to submit their comments by 19 November 2010. Further details on the consultation can be found at:

ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/consultations/tobacco_cons_01_en.htm

The Tobacco Products Directive dates from 2001. It stipulates maximum limits in cigarettes for substances such as nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. It also requires manufacturers to put textual health warnings on tobacco products and ban terms such as "light", "mild" or "low tar".

Through the revision of this Directive, the Commission seeks to regulate tobacco products on a uniform basis in all Member States, to improve awareness of dangers of tobacco use, to increase motivation to quit and to discourage initiation of smoking.

The public is invited to comment on problems that are identified in the public consultation, such as:

* Legislation in Member States varies widely across the EU and does not sufficiently address health and safety concerns relating to certain tobacco and nicotine products such as electronic cigarettes.
* Pictorial warnings are currently used in four Member States: Belgium, Romania, UK and Latvia. This means that the level of information for EU consumers about the dangers of smoking can vary considerably from one Member State to another.
* Regulation allowing or forbidding potentially harmful, addictive and attractive substances, including flavours, varies widely between Member States.
* Information on ingredients in tobacco is difficult to understand, compare and analyse at present. This is due to a variety of formats and reporting mechanisms in different Member States.


www.ensp.org/node/243

[Perpetua]

Thanks Kate - I shall read with interest.

[Chrissie]

Thanks for the info Kate

Although I want to promote vaping above smoking I do also wonder about the facts about the true dangers of smoking.

Now I know this is going to sound pathetic but it has made me wonder.

Just over 14 years ago, me & a friend took in 2 kittens from the same litter- Merlin & Bailey. I was a very heavy smoker & Merlin over the years has on a daily basis been subjected to passive smoking from me. Julie & her OH didn't smoke or allow smoking in their house. Sadly last week Bailey had to be pts due to a massive tumour in his bowel. On the other hand, my Merlin (at the moment) is only showing signs of old age.

OK, I know the make up of cats is very different to humans & there can be so many other triggers to cancer, but it just does make me wonder.

Edit as I should add that they both had an identical strict diet as they where both prone to struvite problems.

[kate]

Thanks Perpetua :-)

I know what you mean, Chrissie. I have a lot of trouble believing anything now after finding so many distortions and outright lies about smoking and the scale of risks. The whole thing is about who is allowed to profit as far as I can see and nothing to do with public health.

This consultation is a sham too. It's gone from them controlling smoking to tobacco and now to all nicotine products. I won't be surprised when they do the same with caffeine.

[Perpetua]

Medical opinion on one thing or another seems to differ and contradict itself from one week to the next, you have to wonder whose best interests some legislation actually does serve.

Funnily enough Chris, I wondered that about Sammy as he's been subjected to my passive smoking for years - once upon a time I'd bath him every 2-3 weeks as his coat quickly yellowed, now I only do it when he's due a flea treatment.

[ckc]

Did e-cigs just become a Tobacco product in the EU ?? From what they just wrote they believe they should be!! What the bluumin ecks,i wish they'd decide.

[kate]

It looks to me like tobacco control are going to try to assert authority over all nicotine that isn't medical. Apparently there are proposals for postal bans, flavour bans, etc.

[ckc]

How can e-cigs be regulated as a tobacco product and under the MHRA at the same time? They can't,does this mean the outcome of the MHRA consultation been decided? Makes me wonder.

[kate]

This is a European consultation that will determine the policies for 'tobacco' products. Presumably where nicotine is medicine it is not tobacco.

[ckc]

So for example ,in the future i'll be able to vape my approved medicine anywhere but not my spare which i bought at the tobacconist in France that has 'smoking kills' stamped up the side of it lol. I get their drift. Cheers Kate.

[kate]

These are bits that Andy/Frog has picked out as concerns:


An extension of the scope of the Directive could be envisaged to include novel forms of oral tobacco, herbal cigarettes, and electronic nicotine delivery systems

Novel forms of oral tobacco would be banned similarly to snus.

All types of smokeless tobacco products would be freely marketed in the EU, subject to possible requirements for appropriate consumer information such as health warnings.
OR
The ban on "snus" would be extended to all types of smokeless tobacco products.

Establish a positive common list of tobacco products ingredients
Only those ingredients that are on the list can be used for the manufacturing of tobacco products.

The cross-border sale of tobacco products (via the Internet) potentially undermines national tobacco control efforts, in particular the enforcement of the minimum purchasing age as well as the collection of tax revenues. Products sold on the Internet do not always bear health warnings or text warnings are not in the official language(s) of the Member State of the citizen ordering via the Internet.
Cross-border retail sales of tobacco products would be banned over the Internet. This might also include ban for postal delivery of tobacco to consumers

[ckc]

I think its rather scarey that they've picked the smokeless tobacco out and given 'ban' as an option. Also Specific safety and quality requirements would be developed for ENDS.Fair enough if they're fair.

[foxy9212]

So are we to understand that the MHRA are to be overruled by the EU regulatory body and that ALL nicotine products are to be placed under the umbrella term "tobacco products?" This being the case all current e-cig/juice vendors will be out of business all over the EU - nice one!

The U.S. has banned flavoured cigarettes but this ban did not extend to pipe and cigar tobacco as flavouring is an integral part of that product. I used to handroll pipe tobacco and add my own flavourings - it's very easy to add one's own.

Fox

[kate]

There's possible internet sales bans and postage bans for tobacco products too, plus extortionate taxes.

[foxy9212]

That being the case there will be some very busy customs officials sorting through the hundreds of thousands of small packages arriving from China - perhaps they're training Spaniels as we speak!

Outrageous but that's what we've come to expect from the EU.

Fox