Tobacco: a package of measures approved by the EU to fight against smoking

While the price of cigarette packs will increase by 30 to 40 cents in France from July 1, European health ministers have reached some compromises on the fight against tobacco after tough negotiations.

The two main provisions are the obligation to display pictorial warnings on the dangers of tobacco covering 65% of the front and back surfaces of packages and the ban on strong flavors such as menthol.

However, not all of the recommendations proposed by the various countries were adopted. Thus, a blocking minority has also succeeded in retaining the authorization to sell so-called “slim” cigarettes.

Contrary to what France and Spain wanted, the sale of cigarettes on the Internet will not be totally prohibited on European territory. Each country will be able to take national measures and the States which authorize distance selling will have to “prevent distance selling to countries which prohibit it”.
No measure concerned the electronic cigarette.

It now remains for the European Parliament to take a position on these various legislative proposals.