A bill has been approved in the European Parliament with the aim of tightening some of the measures of the current Directive on tobacco; among other proposals it is requested that tobacco products are less attractive to young people.
Linda McAvan is the rapporteur for this initiative, and notes that 'despite the downward trend in smoking among adults in most of the States of the Union. The WHO figures show a very worrying upward trend for young smokers in some of the Member States. ' The new regulations must be negotiated with the Member States of the European Union, and after their approval by the Council and the Parliament, all the adhered countries will have 18 months from its entry into force to transfer it to the corresponding national legislation
It wants to prevent the tobacco industry allocate a series of specific products to young people, and - at the same time - the obligation on the warnings (printed on tobacco packages) of the harm of smoking on people's health is hardened. The regulations intend that these warnings occupy two thirds of the package (65%), when they now occupy at least 30% of the front surface and 40% in the back.
Another of the measures included in the new regulations is the regulation of electronic cigarettes, which will be subject to the same standards as medications provided they are presented with curative or preventive properties. To do this, they may not contain more than 30mg / ml of nicotine, they must carry sanitary warnings and should not be sold to persons under 18 years of age.
