Agreement reached on new tobacco Directive

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Monday 13 February 2012

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NEWS
EU Commission, businesses play down ACTA fears
As mass demonstrations took place across Europe over the weekend against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, the European Commission and pro-ACTA industry groups published statements intend to fend off "unjustified accusations".

News | Violence in Athens as Parliament votes new austerity bill
News | Music industry looks to cloud for new business
News | EU, India hope for a trade deal by year-end
News | Dutch website causes stir in Central Europe
News | Crackdown on derivatives trading agreed
Hot topics
SPECIAL REPORTS
Special Reports
LINKSDOSSIERS

Smart grids: Making connections
EU plans to move towards a low-carbon economy depend upon a transformed cross-border transmissions system that can integrate renewables and smart meters alike, offering energy consumption savings at source. But is Europe on track to meet the challenge?

LinksDossier | The Danish EU presidency: Bridge over troubled water
LinksDossier | EU-Ukraine relations: A geopolitical test
LinksDossier | Europe's new treaty: Towards a multi-speed Union
LinksDossier | CAP reform 2014-2020
LinksDossier | Cybersecurity: Protecting the digital economy
INTERVIEWS

Potočnik: More legislative power, but no money for environment
Compared to other policy areas, environment still remains the Cinderella of the European budget, where allocations amount to just over €2 billion compared to research which gets more than €50 billion for the FP7. Negotiations on the next EU budget 2014-2020 will be crucial, said Commissioner Janez Potočnik in an interview with EurActiv Slovakia.

Interview | Hedegaard: 'Rethinking our growth model'
Interview | Director: Demand for French classes 'growing by 5% each year'
Interview | Danish minister: Green growth without prophesying
Interview | Welsh leader: 'Our interests in Europe are distinctive from England's'
Interview | Šefčovič: Citizens’ Initiative will bring Europe closer together
OPINIONS

Senegal deserves transparent elections
The stakes for the upcoming presidential elections in Senegal on 26 February are high for its democratic development, writes Ernst Stetter, secretary-general of the centre-left European Foundation for Progressive Studies.

Opinion | GM crops: Follow the money
Opinion | The vicious cycle of Greece
Opinion | Romanian government falls: Plus ça change...
Opinion | Multilevel Europe: A win-win for EU and Ukraine
Opinion | A strong public service is even more needed in times of crisis
BLOGS

European Foundation Statute: Entering the home stretch
A level-playing field for European foundations is a step closer to becoming a reality with the European Commission’s adoption of a proposed Regulati..

Blog | Fierce troika attack on Greek labour costs
Blog | Al borde del éxodo, el último acto de la tragedia griega
Blog | External and internal factors of the Greek failure
Blog | Eurostat: Eurozone debt actually decreasing
Blog | Britain belongs at the centre of where decisions are made
VIDEOS

Background:

The European Parliament and Council of Ministers have reached an agreement on a new EU Directive on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. The agreement was reached at a conciliation committee meeting on 28 February. The Directive will become law once the Parliament and Council give their final approval and should enter into force 31 September 2002 (

See EurActiv 15 Dec. 2000).

The new Directive outlines regulations for the supervision of all forms of tobacco products. It sets the maximum levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide in tobacco products. The new tobacco Directive also prohibits the use of terms like "low tar", "ultra light" and "mild", as well as the use of brand names that suggest less harmful tobacco. Furthermore, warning texts on tobacco products will be increased in size.