Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-07-28
CONTENTS
[01] EU tobacco advertising ban hoped to reduce smoking
[01] EU tobacco advertising ban hoped to reduce smoking
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Markos
Kyprianou expressed optimism that the tobacco advertising ban -
effective July 31 - will help reduce smoking and smoking-related
illnesses.
The relevant directive was passed by the European Parliament and the
Council in 2003 and bans tobacco advertising in the printed media, the
radio and the internet. Tobacco advertising on television has been
banned in the EU since the early 1990s.
The directive also prohibits tobacco companies' sponsorship of
cross-border cultural and sporting events.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Commission cited a World Bank
study, according to which "advertising bans can reduce smoking
prevalence by up to 7%."
In a separate development, the Commission has adopted a report on the
implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive.
According to the report, "provisions on health warnings and maximum
tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide are being respected. However, public
authorities have a very incomplete picture of the ingredients being
used in cigarettes, their functions and their health effects on
consumers, mainly due to incomplete disclosure of information by
tobacco companies. A consultation on how to make the disclosure rules
on additives more effective will be launched in the autumn."
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