ESMO welcomes the recent adoption of the non-binding Council Recommendations on smoke-free environments which include new measures covering emerging tobacco and related products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). It follows an ESMO letter sent to EU national governments, together with a social media post, asking to secure the adoption of the Recommendations.
ESMO’s Director of Public Policy, Prof Jean-Yves Blay, stated: ‘The adopted Recommendations demonstrate a significant step forward to fight the tobacco pandemic in the EU with a particular focus to prevent young people and children from taking up e-cigarettes considering their particular ‘appeal and uptake’. To further tackle the bane of cancer, the European Commission must launch a timely revision of the EU’s tobacco policies, including the Tobacco Products Directive, Tobacco Tax Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive.’
This initiative is part of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and updates the 2009 Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments which predates e-cigarettes and HTPs. The updated Recommendations ask EU member states to provide effective protection from exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosols in numerous places, including any outdoor areas related to the workplace, transport hubs (bus, tram and train stops, and at airports), restaurants, bars, cafés or any health care-related areas. In addition, the Recommendations ask EU member states to consider inclusion of other areas, such as private cars and other outdoor areas where events are organised, auditoriums, spectator areas at public events, and spaces associated with buildings open to the public such as entrances to shopping centres and courtyards of buildings open to the public.
ESMO continues with its efforts to prevent cancer cases caused by tobacco and related products and ensure that future legislative measures reflect the Organisation’s objectives.