[Intl-tobacco] ENEWS: EU Ministers Agree on Stricter Tobacco Regulations, Labeling

Thu, 29 Jun 2000 14:40:31 -0400 (EDT)

Robert Weissman
Essential Information=09=09=09|   Internet:=09rob@essential.org

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Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 12:21:44 -0400
From: geneb@tobacco.org
To: rob@essential.org
Subject: ENEWS: EU Ministers Agree on Stricter Tobacco Regulations, Labelin=
g

This is article number 45430
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EU Ministers Agree on Stricter Tobacco Regulations, Labeling

by Adrian Cox
EUROPE;
Source: Bloomberg News, Thursday, 6/29/00
Brussels, June 29 (Bloomberg) -- European Union health ministers approved a=
 cut=20
in the tar content of cigarettes, tighter rules on cigarette labeling, and=
=20
larger health warnings on packs, such as ``Smoking is deadly'' and ``Smokin=
g=20
leads to impotence.''

The ministers agreed to enlarge health warnings to cover 25 percent on both=
=20
sides of the pack, higher than the current 4 percent, although lower than a=
=20
measure voted on by the European Parliament earlier this month that called =
for=20
35 percent on the front of a pack and 45 percent on the back.

``Tobacco must be regulated through a responsible manufacturing and marketi=
ng=20
policy,'' said David Byrne, European Commissioner for Consumer and Health=
=20
Affairs, adding that ``the appalling and entirely preventable death toll fr=
om=20
smoking'' claims one European life a minute.

Smoking kills half a million EU citizens a year and is the single biggest=
=20
preventable health threat to Europeans, according to the commission, the EU=
's=20
executive arm. Almost 30 percent of Europeans are regular smokers.

Ministers voted to ban phrases such as ``low tar,'' and to lower the maximu=
m=20
tar level to 10 milligrams per cigarette from 12 milligrams and set a=20
1-milligram ceiling on nicotine content.

Germany opposed these measures, but was outvoted by a majority of countries=
 in=20
the 15-nation bloc, according to a U.K. spokesman. Luxembourg, Austria and=
=20
Spain abstained.

The proposal needs to be agreed by the commission before returning to the=
=20
parliament for final approval.