EU Commission calls for Smoke Free Europe by 2012

The European Commission adopted today, after extensive consultation, a proposal for a Council Recommendation calling on all Member States to bring in laws to protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke by 2012. Tobacco remains the largest single cause of premature death and disease in the European Union. According to conservative estimates, 79,000 adults, including 19,000 non-smokers, died in the EU-25 in 2002 due to exposure to tobacco smoke at home (72,000) and in their workplace (7,300).

EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: "It is my firm belief that each and every European merits full protection from tobacco smoke. There is a wave of support from the general public and we will work with Member States to make this a reality. “

Currently, ten EU countries have comprehensive smoke-free laws in place. UK and Ireland have the strictest smoke-free provisions with a complete ban on smoking in enclosed public places, on public transport and in workplaces. Bulgaria is due to follow suit in 2010. A recent Eurobarometer poll suggests that popularity is mounting for smoke-free policies with 84% of Europeans supporting smoke-free offices and other indoor workplaces; 77% in favour of smoke-free restaurants, and 61% supporting smoke-free bars and pubs.

The Smoke Free Recommendation

The Recommendation calls on Member States to act in three main fronts:

Adopt and implement laws to fully protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in enclosed public places, workplaces and public transport as cited in Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco control, within three years of the adoption of the Recommendation

Enhance smoke-free laws with supporting measures such as protecting children, encouraging efforts to give up tobacco use and pictorial warnings on tobacco packages.

Strengthen cooperation at EU level by setting up a network of national focal points for tobacco control.

How many countries already have smoke free policies?

All Member States have some form of regulation aimed to limit exposure to second-hand smoke and its harmful effects on health. The scope and character of these regulations vary. So far, ten EU Member States provide for comprehensive protection from exposure to tobacco smoke. Total bans on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces, including bars and restaurants, are in place in Ireland and in the UK. A similar ban is due to come into force in Bulgaria in June 2010. Italy, Malta, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Slovenia, France and the Netherlands have introduced smoke-free legislation allowing for special enclosed smoking rooms. However, in the remaining Member States, citizens and workers are still not fully protected from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces and public places.

Background on EU smoke-free policy

In the early nineties, a number of EU health and safety at work Directives defined certain restrictions on smoking at work. A Council Resolution (1989) and the Recommendation on smoking prevention (2002) called on Member States to provide protection from exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in indoor workplaces, enclosed public places and public transport. In addition to legislative measures, anti-tobacco media campaigns: "Feel free to say no" and "HELP: For a life without tobacco" highlighted, among other things, the hazards of passive smoking.

In 2007, the Commission launched a public debate on the best way to promote smoke-free environments in the EU through its Green Paper "Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level".

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) - the first ever treaty on public health - has been signed by all members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and so far ratified by 164 Parties, including the Community and 26 of its Member States. The EC leads the negotiations on the FCTC protocol on illicit tobacco trade and has been playing an active role in implementation process of the Convention.

In July 2007, the Second Conference of the Parties to the Convention adopted comprehensive guidelines on the protection from exposure to second-hand smoke that set a "gold standard" for Parties to follow. The Community contributed to the development of the guidelines.
 

Source: eGov Monitor, 30th June 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/lqcl4q

No plans to extend smoking ban to outdoors

The health minister Lord Darzi has said there are no plans to extend the smoking ban to outdoor public places.

The news comes amid media speculation that the European Commissioner for Health is to recommend that the ban is extended to cover outdoor areas, which would include pub beer gardens.

In a debate in the Lords yesterday, crossbench peer Lord Laird asked Darzi what proposals were in place to “ensure that people do not have to smoke tobacco passively in public places which are in the open”.

Darzi replied: “There is no intention at this time to extend the smokefree law to any outdoor places. To make any non-enclosed place smokefree would require new regulations to be made; that would usually happen only after a process of public consultation. However, there will be a review of the smokefree legislation in 2010.”

Laird continued by asking whether plans were in place to “extend legislation banning smoking in certain places to other areas”.

Darzi concluded: “We have given a commitment to review this legislation in 2010. At the moment there are no plans to extend the legislation.”
 

Source: Morning Advertiser, 1st July 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/nxxl7r

Call to ban pub cigarette machines

Most adults believe cigarette vending machines in pubs should be abolished, a survey has shown.

A poll by YouGov for Cancer Research UK found that three-quarters (75%) of respondents were in favour of getting rid of the machines and a similar number (70%) want tobacco products out of sight in shops.

The survey also found the smoking ban, which is marking its second anniversary in England, had been very popular.

Of the 2,000 people questioned, more than 1,500 (76%) said they supported the legislation, with more than half (57%) saying they were strongly in favour of it.

Another report, from Cancer Research's ongoing Smoking Toolkit Study, which tracks smoking on a monthly basis, shows the ban was followed by a rapid decline in the number of smokers for about 9 months, although this was followed by a slight rebound.

The decline amounted to 800,000 fewer smokers.

Professor Robert West, who leads the research at University College, London, said: "The smoke-free law has been a huge boost to smokers trying to quit, but radical action is now needed to build on this success."

Elspeth Lee, head of tobacco control for Cancer Research UK, said: "Smoke-free laws have been a real success - not only in protecting UK workers from second-hand smoke but also helping smokers to quit.

"These results show there's huge public support for the new measures to protect young people from tobacco marketing.

"Stopping the next generation from becoming smokers is a priority if we are to prevent more deaths from a product that has already caused far too many deaths. The public want this and research has shown that future generations will demand it."
 

Source: Channel 4 News, 1st July 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/mdyd5o

Ireland: Tobacco advertising - what took us so long?

A ban on the advertising of tobacco in retail shops comes into effect today. Cigarettes must henceforth be placed in closed plain containers behind the counter, while cigarette machines will have to be token operated within sight of the bar manager in pubs. They can no longer be hidden away in hallways or toilets.

The legislation, which is designed primarily to protect children, should be warmly welcomed. Similar legislation has already been enforced in Canada and Iceland.

Ireland is the first EU nation to ban the display of tobacco products. In some respects this country has taken a magnificent lead in dealing with tobacco, but it has been a long road. People should be asking why this latest move has taken so long?

When Charles Haughey moved against the advertising of tobacco as Minister for Health in the 1970s, he was strongly resisted, but the public warmly welcomed the legislation. Micheál Martin had to face down a vocal combination of tobacco interests and vintners in introducing the smoking ban, but again the move was broadly welcomed.

The latest initiative has been anticipated since the smoking ban was introduced in 2002, but it was challenged by the tobacco industry until January of this year. It was a great pity that commercial interests acting without regard to the health of children or others should have been allowed to delay the legislation for so long.
 

Source: Irish Examiner, 1st July 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/l6ea5m