[Intl-tobacco] Germany opposes cigarette curbs (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

(note date)

Germany opposes cigarette curbs
by Michael Smith / in Luxembourg  
Source: Financial Times, Friday, 6/30/00

European Union governments Thursday approved tighter controls on cigarette
contents and health warnings as part of a drive to cut down on
smoking-related deaths, estimated at 500,000 a year.

 However Germany - the only country to vote against - and tobacco
manufacturers are to consider a legal challenge. Berlin said it was not
against tighter controls but argued that parts of the directive could not
be justified under the single market legal base proposed.

 In Thursday's vote, 11 of the 15 health ministers were in favour of the
directive which forces the printing of "smoking kills" warnings on
cigarette packs and imposes tighter restrictions on the use of carbon
monoxide, tar and nicotine.

 Austria, Luxembourg and Spain abstained.

 The health ministers' endorsement came just eight months after the
European Commission tabled the directive. "In legislative terms this is
formula one speed," said David Byrne, health commissioner.

 The package will now go back to the European Parliament for a second
reading, probably later in the year, and the final shape of the package
will be decided next year in negotiations between the parliament and
governments. Parliament gave broad endorsement to the proposals in a first
reading earlier this month.

 The package approved by health ministers Thursday would set ceilings for
tar and carbon monoxide at 10mg per cigarette and for nicotine at 1mg.

 Germany and the tobacco manufacturers say there is no justification for
extending these limits to export cigarettes as the directive proposes. The
industry says the exports measure will cost it 9,000 jobs. Cigarette
manufacturers also argue that requirements to print "smoking kills" or
"smoking can kill" warnings on a quarter of the surface of each packet are
excessive.

 However, the parliament wants the labels to be larger still.

 The directive also introduces a prohibition on descriptor terms for
cigarettes such as "light", "low tar" and "mild", another measure to which
Germany and cigarette manufacturers object.

 In addition the directive will force manufacturers to supply details of
ingredients.