Activites

• 2001/07/18 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 2001/37
  • OJ L 194 18.07.2001, p. 0026
• 2001/06/05 Final act signed
• 2001/06/05 End of procedure in Parliament
• 2001/05/15 Decision by Parliament, 3rd reading
  • T5-0242/2001 summary

    The European Parliament voted to endorse the compromise agreement, by Mr Jules MAATEN (ELDR, Nl), on a draft directive on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. (Please refer to the previous text). �

• #2347
• 2001/05/14 Council Meeting
• 2001/05/14 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2001/04/27 Report tabled for plenary, 3rd reading
  • A5-0162/2001
• 2001/04/05 Joint text approved by Conciliation Committee co-chairs
  • 3614/2001
• 2001/02/27 Formal meeting of Conciliation Committee
• #2330
• 2001/02/12 Council Meeting
• 2000/12/13 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T5-0557/2000 summary

    The European Parliament approved the text by Mr Jules MAATEN (ELDR, NL) on the common position together with all the main amendments tabled to the common position, in particular as regards the size and wording of warnings on cigarette packets, the use of terms such as 'light' and 'ultra light', the use of colour illustrations on packets depicting the consequences of smoking, lists of permitted ingredients and chemical additives, and export derogations. (Refer to the previous document for a guideline of the amendments tabled by the committee responsible and which were subsequently approved by the House).�

• 2000/12/11 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2000/11/21 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A5-0348/2000
• 2000/09/08 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• 2000/07/31 Council position published
  • 09448/1/2000 summary

    The Council adopted - either wholly, partly, or retaining only the substance - 15 amendments proposed by the European Parliament which were taken up in the Commission proposal. It also adopted two other amendments, which had been initially rejected by the Commission and which concerns Article 7 (the use of the term 'low tar', 'light', 'ultra light', 'mild' or any other similar terms which have the aim or the direct or indirect effect of conveying the impression that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than others shall be prohibited), reinforcing that Article by a reference to information yield, as propose by the Commission. In relation to the amendments accepted by the Commission but not taken up in the common position, these relate to: - the reference to the price of tobacco products was not appropriate given the overall structure of the Directive; - the specific reference to the evaluation of tobacco products designed to reduce risk, the Council did not consider that this was essential at this stage since this was to be a priority for study in the first report; - improving the accuracy and reliability of methods for measuring tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields, and also on investigating the possiblity of drawing up a common list of other ingredients; - improving the evaluation of the effects of tobacco products in connection with the need to ensure a high level of health protection; - the protection of commercial and intellectual property rights in relation to customer information; - the possiblity of an exemption, even a temporary one, for the application of the new provisions to cigarettes exported outside the Community, the Council considers that this is not justified, particularly given the problems of control which this exemption would have raised; - the annual disclosure of results, this would be less costly and more reliable; - the increase in dimensions requested by the Parliament, both for yield indications and for warnings to be included on packaging, this was seen as being excessive. Furthermore, the Council did not incorporate the Commission's proposal that only the maximum authorised yields laid down in Article 3(1) should be printed on the packets, judging that it was important to inform consumers of the actual yields of cigarettes. The principal changes introduced by the Council include: - the amendment of the preamble in order to ensure better correspondance with the text of the enacting terms, be merging some recitals and deleting others, without substantially altering the contents; - reintroducing a provision taken from Directive 89/622/EEC by providing for the possiblity of naming the body which issued the warning, while specifying that this should be stated outside the frame of the warning notice so as not to reduce its impact; - the introduction of two additional warnings. �

• #2281
• 2000/06/29 Council Meeting
• 2000/06/28 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(2000)0428 summary

    In general terms, the European Parliament supports the approach and the main orientations of the Commission's proposal. This is particularly important as regards its acceptance of the Internal Market principles underlying the proposal. The amendments proposed by the Parliament are largely of a technical nature. The Commission accepts the majority in whole or in part, and in some cases subject to drafting modifications. The amendments accepted by the Commission concern the inclusion of new recitals: - to incorporate in the text an amendment underlining that the price of tobacco can influence to a large extent whether the consumption of such products begins or ceases, particularly as regards youngsters; - to foster research for new methods for measuring tar, nicotine and CO yields and and accepting ISO standards provisionally; - to encourage research and technical progress in establishing the exposure to toxins and other harmful substances caused by the use of tobacco products; - to encourage Member States to make use of the opportunities available to them to tax tobacco products more heavily; - to point out that the directive must form part of an overall strategy to combat the use of tobacco products aimed at specially at young people and women; - to develop the international standards on tobacco products within the WHO; Other amendments aim to clarify certain aspects of the proposal. As regards the amendments or parts of the amendments which have not been accepted by the Commission, these are for the following reasons: - their objective and formulation is not sufficently clear; - they would not be consistent with Community law including other Community Directives; - they would upset the balance of interests; - they would be too ambitious at this stage given the level of Community legislation.�

  • DG [{'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm', 'title': 'Health and Consumers'}],
• 2000/06/14 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0262/2000 summary

    The European Parliament in its first reading adopted the report drafted by Jules MAATEN (ELDR, Netherlands) amending the proposal for the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. The principal amendments are as follows: -as of 31 December 2003, no ammonia or ammonia compounds shall be added to cigarettes released for free circulation, marketed or manufactured in the Member States. -the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields of cigarettes shall be printed on one side of the cigarette packet so that at least 30% of the corresponding surface is covered. This figure is raised to 35% for countries with two official languages and 40% for countries with three official languages. -the list of ingredients for each product must be freely accessible, for example, from web sites and health experts. -each packet of tobacco products, except for smokeless and oral tobacco products must carry an obligatory warning: "Passive smoking harms those around you, especially children" together with one of a specified list of general warnings. An additional warning from Annex I must also be printed. The list in Annex I is extended by the Parliament. At the end of the warning, a free telephone number of an independent service must be given, which can provide detailed information on the dangers of smoking. Member States must set up such a service, if one does not exist. -the general warning must cover not less than 35% of the external area of the corresponding surface of the packet, raised to 37% where thee are two official languages and 40% where there are three. the additional warning will cover not less than 45% of the external area of the corresponding surface of the packet, rising to 47% for countries with two official languages and 50% for countries with three. -there are additional amendments on the size of the warnings for packaging of pipe tobacco and cigars, as well as special conditions for vending machines. -the report on ingredients from manufacturers and importers of tobacco products must be supplied annually, and the requirements for the contents of the report are more carefully specified. provisions for testing of ingredients and dissemination of data are made, -the use of such terms as 'low tar' and 'light' are prohibited; Member States do not have the power expressly to authorise them. -the contents of the report on the application of this directive are more tightly specified.�

• 2000/06/13 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2000/05/25 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0156/2000
• 2000/01/21 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• #2219
• 1999/11/18 Council Meeting
  • 2219
• 1999/11/16 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1999)0594 summary

    PURPOSE : Proposal for a Directive on the approximation of Member States' legislation concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. CONTENT : This proposal : - Recasts three existing directives regarding tar content in cigarettes, oral tobacco and labelling of tobacco products. The tar yield of cigarettes in the Member States must not exceed 10mg per cigarette as from 31 December 2003 (or three years from date of adoption). A continuing derogation is provided in respect of Greece which must apply the 10mg ceiling by 31 December 2006 (or 6 years from the date of adoption). Compulsory labelling provisions will include the new yield of carbon monoxide. There are new provisions on warning labels regarding size and type. The strong warning on oral tobacco will be changed to a more general one, but this does not apply to legitimate aids to stopping smoking. - Includes provisions to harmonise Member States legislation as regards nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in cigarettes. The nicotine yield of cigarettes in the Member States must not exceed 1mg per cigarette from 31 December 2003, or three years from the date of adoption. In line with the approach taken for tar and nicotine, the Commission proposes a ceiling on carbon monoxide yield of not more than 10mg per cigarette with similar time limits. - Includes provisions for the non-tobacco ingredients. The Commission notes that Member States' legislation regarding additives that may be incorporated into tobacco products differs. The control of additives in the Internal Market is subject to great uncertainty. The proposal envisages that manufacturers and importers submit a list of non-tobacco ingredients, together with a statement giving reasons for the ingredients. Member States should obtain toxicological data on them and require evidence that they are safe for public consumption. Commercial confidentiality will be respected. - Makes provision for the description of tobacco products. The proposal envisages that terms such as ·low tar, 'light' and 'mild' be prohibited, since they give a mistaken impression of the health risks involved. The Member States may expressly authorise these terms, but shall inform the Commission of the conditions of the authorisation. The Commission will inform the European Parliament and the Council in this regard. - Provides for a review mechanism through a reporting procedure to take account in particular of new scientific developments in so far as they affect the establishment and operation of the single market.�

  • DG [{'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm', 'title': 'Health and Consumers'}],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1999)0594
• Debate in Council: 2219
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0156/2000
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0262/2000
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(2000)0428
• Council position published: 09448/1/2000
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A5-0348/2000
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T5-0557/2000
• Joint text approved by Conciliation Committee co-chairs: 3614/2001
• Report tabled for plenary, 3rd reading: A5-0162/2001
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 3rd reading: T5-0242/2001
• : Directive 2001/37
• : OJ L 194 18.07.2001, p. 0026

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)