EU bans flavoured cigarettes from 2020

A new EU legislation will take effect on 20 May 2020 prohibiting the commercialisation of menthol cigarettes and tobacco in Hungary, origo.hu reported.

State Secretary for Health Gábor Zsombor has notified that the 2014 EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) also includes a ban on smoking tobacco products containing other flavours such as fruit or vanilla. According to the EU Directive, flavourings in cigarettes and Roll-Your-Own tobacco must not be used in quantities that give the product a distinguishable ‘characterising’ flavour other than tobacco.

The 2014 TPD replaces and repeals the 2001 TPD and significantly advances public health in Europe, for example it includes, apart from banning ‘characterising’ flavours, an increase of graphic health warnings from 30-40% to 65% on the front and back of the pack.

According to the official website of the European Union, one of the most compelling reasons to strengthen the rules on tobacco products is the negative impact of tobacco consumption on people’s health. Tobacco use is responsible for an estimated 700 000 avoidable deaths in the EU every year. The vast majority of smokers start when they are very young – 70% before their 18th birthday and 94% before the age of 25. The new Directive aims to make tobacco products and tobacco consumption less attractive in the EU, in particular for young people.

Earlier, origo.hu reported that the California Institute of Technology had found that menthol may help to cover the actual strength of cigarette smoke making it more pleasurable and more difficult to quit. The research also reveals that menthol smokers show significantly higher levels of nicotine addiction compared with non-menthol smokers in the same age group.

based on the article of origo.hu
translated by Gábor Hajnal

Source: http://www.origo.hu