European Commission Asks for Comments Regarding Upcoming Tobacco Rules

The European Commission, part of the European Union, is soliciting feedback regarding new tobacco regulations it plans on announcing next year.

Between February and May 16, 2023, anyone—including those not in the EU—is welcome to submit comments as part of the Evaluation of the Legislative Framework for Tobacco Control. The public consultation asks a commenter to provide an email, identify themselves as a member of the public or organization, determine whether their comment should be public and then evaluate the following three statements:

1. EU-level rules on Tobacco Control are essential to ensure high level public health protection
2. Emerging products represent a major risk due to their addictive nature and their impacts on public health
3. Emerging products can help smokers quit

“Emerging products” references vaping and other tobacco-free nicotine products.

Finally, commenters are allowed to submit a 500-word comment of their own.

The European Cigar Manufacturers Association (ECMA), a cigar trade group, has published a guide for those interested in commenting.

“With plain packaging and a full-flavour ban looming in the upcoming revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, we strongly invite cigar smokers to make their voice heard so that EU politicians understand that cigars are different from mass-consumed tobacco and nicotine products,” said Paul Varakas, director general of the ECMA, in a statement. “Traditional niche products consumed on an occasional basis should not be treated the same way as cigarettes and new products used on a daily basis.”