European Parliament adopts resolution on smoke-free environments

On 26 November, a resolution was adopted in the European Parliament calling for a smoke free environment in the EU. This resolution represents a coordinated effort towards a smoke-free Europe. The European Parliament resolution welcomes the comprehensive smoke-free laws already in place in several Member States and encourages all Member States to make rapid progress in introducing effective measures to protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in all enclosed workplaces and public places.

Tobacco smoke has been classified as a known human carcinogen by the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is estimated that 25% of all cancer deaths and 15% of all deaths in the EU could be attributed to smoking; whereas according to conservative estimates, 7.300 adults, including 2.800 non-smokers, died as a result of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at their workplace in the EU in 2002; and a further 72.000 adult deaths, including those of 16.400 non-smokers, were linked to ETS exposure at home.

Presently, EU legislation on the classification of chemicals does not allow for a simple classification of second-hand tobacco smoke as a carcinogen. The current legislative framework applies only to those substances and preparations, which are placed on the market in the Member States. Tobacco smoke as such is not a product. Therefore, despite the fact that tobacco smoke has been classified as a known human carcinogen at international level, classifying it as a carcinogen under EU legislation is problematic.

This resolution complements the European Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on smoke free environments to assist and encourage national efforts to better protect citizens from the risks of tobacco smoke, in line with international commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The Recommendation would also put in place mechanisms to monitor progress towards smoke-free environments throughout the EU and facilitate the exchange of best practices and policy coordination between Member States. In the resolution, the European Parliament called on the Council to recommend that Member States establish an ongoing dialogue and consultation with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the support of all actors for the implementation of national tobacco control strategies and programmes.

Additionally, a new tobacco control campaign was launched in January 2009. One of the main characteristic of this new initiative is that it will include young people as active partners in the designing of the actions and the choice of the media tools. Prevention, cessation and passive smoking will be the main topics. Internet and new media, such the mobile phones, are at the centre of the communication plan.

For further information, please see:

• Commission proposal of 30 June 2009 for a Council recommendation on smoke-free environments (COM(2009)0328),
  http://ec.europa.eu/prelex/detail_dossier_real.cfm?CL=en&DosId=198401
  
  
• Commission's Green Paper of 30 January 2007 entitled 'Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level' (COM(2007)0027), http://ec.europa.eu/prelex/detail_dossier_real.cfm?CL=en&DosId=195308
  
  
• Resolution of 24 October 2007 on the Green Paper 'Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2007-0471+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
  

For more information please contact:

European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC)
Denis Horgan, Brussels Office
EMail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.ecpc-online.org