ARMED with a new set of recommendations from scientists on ways to curb tobacco related illness, the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs and Health, Mr Padraig Flynn, is to launch a new drive for further controls inside the Union.
The issue will come up on Wednesday at the Commission for a preliminary debate when Mr Flynn will argue for measures to make the reduction of tobacco consumption the top health priority of the Union.
Half a million people die in the EU every year from tobacco related diseases, Mr Flynn will report. Studies show that 50 per cent of regular smokers will eventually be killed by their habit.
The recommendations from the EU's Cancer Experts Committee were presented to a conference in Helsinki last week and warmly welcomed by Mr Flynn.
They make the case for a progressive halving of nicotine levels in cigarettes over live years, for the strengthening of health labelling for tobacco products and inclusion in these labels of toll free phone numbers for health information, for the complete withdrawal of self service displays and vending machines to stop access by children and for a policy of upward harmonisation of prices. The progressive ending of duty free sales is welcomed.
