From 2016 when the new EU tobacco rules changes will take effect, cigarettes, rolling tobacco and other products will have to carry graphic picture and text warnings covering 65 percent of the front and back of packets. The rules also include a ban on smoking tobacco products containing flavours such as fruit or vanilla. European Union diplomats approved new anti tobacco legislation on Wednesday, including larger health warnings on cigarette packets and the bloc’s first ever rules on electronic cigarettes.

Menthol cigarettes will be banned four years later, after some governments demanded a slower phase out.

“I firmly believe that prominent visual warnings will serve as effective reminders of the severe health consequences of smoking and help people make well informed choices,” European health commissioner Tonio Borg said in a statement. “And the prohibition of characterising flavours such as fruit or menthol, which appeal to young people, will make smoking initiation less appealing,” he said.

The deal is now expected to be formally approved by EU ministers and the full parliament before entering force next year.

The main elements of deal on EU tobacco controls are

I. Health warning

Graphic picture and text warnings will have to cover 65 percent of the front and back of packets of cigarettes and other tobacco products for smoking. Current EU law demands that written health warnings cover 30 percent of a pack’s front and 40 percent of the back, but pictures are not warnings will include phrases such as “Smoking kills quit now” and “Tobacco smoke contains over 70 substances known to cause cancer.”Individual governments will be free to go beyond the minimum requirements and impose a ban on all branding, provided such “plain packaging” rules are justified on public health grounds and notified to the European Commission.

II. Flavouring ban

Cigarettes and rolling tobacco containing characterising flavours such as fruit or vanilla will be banned from 2016.A ban on menthol flavourings will apply from 2020.

III. Electronic cigarettes

E cigarettes will be classed as consumer products without the need for prior approval provided they meet a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per millilitre (mg/ml). Products containing higher concentrations will be regulated as cartridges for reusable e cigarettes must contain no more than 10 ml of nicotine laced liquid, up to the maximum 20 mg/ml concentration. Non refillable products can contain no more than 2 millilitre of Commission will publish a study on the potential health risks of refillable e cigarettes by 2016. If three or more EU countries ban refillable e cigarettes on health grounds, the Commission will be free to impose an EU wide ban.

IV. Other restrictions

A ban on misleading terms on cigarettes and other smoking products, such as “organic” or “natural”.Governments can decide individually to ban the online sale of tobacco products across borders.

Source Euronews

Eu brings stricter measures against e-cigarettes

Where to buy clove flavored cigarettes online – yahoo voices – voices.yahoo.com

Some campaigners had called for e cigarettes to be subjected to the same regulation as nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) such as patches and gum.

E cigarettes consist of a battery, a cartridge containing nicotine, a solution of propylene glycol or glycerine mixed with water, and an atomiser to turn the solution into a vapour.

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies said after the vote “E cigs can be a game changer in the fight against smoking. Hundreds of former smokers have written to tell me that they have helped them give up cigarettes when nothing else worked.”

Conservative MEP Martin Callanan said “Forcing e cigs off the shelves would have been totally crazy.

“These are products that have helped countless people stop smoking more harmful cigarettes and yet some MEPs wanted to make them harder to manufacture than ordinary tobacco.”

Adrian Everett, chief executive of e cigarette brand E Lites, said “This is a fantastic result for public health and the millions of smokers around Europe who are switching to e cigarettes.

“We would have been in the absurd position of the Department of Health making it much easier to make and sell tobacco cigarettes than e cigarettes which are vastly less harmful.”

Tom Rolfe, president of the Skycig brand of e cigarettes said “Skycig welcome any regulations which will help us to ensure that under 18s cannot access electronic cigarettes and to ensure that all e cigarette companies must produce products of a high standard, in the same way that Skycig and other reputable e cigarette companies do.”

In addition, health warnings covering 65 per cent of cigarette packs could come into force and menthol cigarettes banned following an EU vote today.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg voted on a raft of measures to help curb smoking but stopped short of introducing plain packaging for cigarettes and tobacco.

Menthol and other flavours will be banned from 2022 but there is to be no ban on packs of slim cigarettes.

MEPs voted to put health warnings on 65 per cent of each cigarette pack, as opposed to the proposed 75 per cent.

At present, warnings should cover at least 30% of the front and 40% of the back of cigarette packs, with a border surrounding them.

Today’s vote also includes a ban on words like “light”, “mild” and “low tar” and a ban on oral tobacco although Sweden would retain its exemption.

Today marked the European Parliament’s first reading of the draft tobacco directive which could become law in 2014.

There will now be further negotiations with the Council the grouping of relevant EU ministers.

Health campaigners welcomed the news but British American Tobacco said the agreement went too far.

A spokesman said “We’ve always said that we support sensible, balanced regulation that takes into account all the people it will impact before being decided on and implemented.

“We have made it clear throughout this process that many of the proposals on the table were not proportionate, were unlikely to succeed in addressing public health objectives, and would lead to an increase in black market sales.

“Although there are clearly many differing opinions among MEPs when it comes to this directive, it appears as if some sensible modifications have been made.

“However, much of this directive remains disproportionate and could be in breach of European law.

“For example, health warnings covering more than half of the cigarette pack goes well beyond what is needed to fully inform consumers of the health risks and a ban on mentholated cigarettes will only increase the demand for black market goods.

“The weight of evidence shows that smokers of menthol cigarettes face no higher risk of tobacco related diseases than smokers of non menthol cigarettes, that they find it no more difficult to quit and that the availability of menthol cigarettes does not increase youth initiation of smoking.

“Banning menthol in cigarettes is not justifiable based on the available scientific evidence.”

On packaging, the spokesman said the firm “strongly opposed the standardisation of our products.

“No evidence has been presented to justify why it is deemed necessary to restrict the dimensions or colours of a package or the way in which it can be opened.”

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said “We are pleased that MEPs recognised the importance of increasing the size of health warnings and that these will be placed at the top of the packs to make them more visible.

“Despite unprecedented levels of lobbying by the tobacco industry to undermine the directive it is gratifying that MEPs stood firm on many of the key measures.”

Angela Harbutt, campaigns manager of the smokers’ group Forest, said “Consumers will have mixed feelings.

“We welcome the fact that some products have been reprieved while menthol cigarettes have been given a stay of execution, but consumers are still angry that the EU is trying to restrict or ban products they have purchased and enjoyed for many years.

“Prohibition doesn’t work and products that are banned will almost certainly be available on the unregulated black market.”

Maura Gillespie, policy programme director at the British Heart Foundation, said “MEPs have missed an opportunity to make real inroads into curbing the number of young people taking up smoking.

“It’s positive news that cigarette warnings are getting substantially bigger but MEPs could and should have gone further.

“Research shows health warnings that take up 75% or more of a cigarette box are more effective at reducing the attractiveness of products among our young people.

“The ban on flavoured tobacco is also welcome but it’s extremely disappointing slim cigarettes have not been banned.

“They’re dangerous products often targeted at young women that can mislead people about the harms of smoking.

“Now it’s up to the UK Government to show they’re made of stronger stuff and introduce standardised packs, stripped of attractive branding, without delay.”