About: smoking
The EU is no progressive free trader: It’s exporting chronic diseases to Latin America
If the EU truly wants to be the global progressive trading power, it needs to make sure its trade policy does not promote ill-health, and instead makes a real contribution to the SDGs, writes George Thurley.
Greek court says e-cigarettes do not differ from traditional smoking
A top Greek court has decided that electronic cigarettes should have the same legal restrictions as traditional smoking does when it comes to bans in public places and advertising.
Campaigners tell Austria smoking ban is not ‘freedom of choice’ but a health right
Any visitor from Western Europe who enters a bar or a pizza place in Austria is undoubtedly surprised that smoking on the premises is still tolerated and actively practised.
Commission urges Greece to implement smoking ban in public places
The number of smokers in Greece has decreased the last five years, however, the non-implementation of a smoking ban law in enclosed public places has irritated the population, which calls it “cultural degradation”.
Angry tobacco industry asks Andriukaitis for ‘transparent dialogue’
The tobacco industry is fuming at EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis following his statement that manufacturers are “silent” over illicit trade.
Andriukaitis: National health systems need ‘fundamental reform’
EU countries could save money and lives by increasing investment in disease prevention and health promotion, the European Commission said on Thursday (23 November), stressing that good health policy requires political will across all sectors.
Commission backs French idea to ban on-screen smoking
The European Commission is supportive of an idea recently raised in France to ban smoking in films in order to make tobacco consumption less glamorous, an EU official told EURACTIV.com.
EU’s approach to COPD remains focused on tobacco control
Despite alarming figures, the European Commission does not plan specific targets or a harmonised approach for the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Instead, it says it will ensure tobacco control policies are properly implemented in the member states.
Patients’ leader: Reimbursed anti-smoking programmes are a way to kill COPD
Stricter rules on smoking, reimbursed anti-smoking programmes and smoke-free public places are among the ways to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from being a public health crisis, says Mikaela Odemyr.
Three asks from EFA Patients on World COPD Day
On World COPD Day, Isabel Saraiva, Deputy Director of EFA Member RESPIRA, the Portuguese Association for People with COPD and other Chronic Respiratory Diseases, highlights the minimum standards of care COPD patients need: earlier diagnosis, smoking cessation programmes and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Life-threatening lung disease: Europe’s ‘unknown’ killer
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that results in changes in several different parts of the respiratory system and lungs at the same time. But it is far more than just a 'smoker's cough'.
Tobacco makers denounce ‘brand theft’ from plain packaging
The trend towards imposing plain packaging on tobacco products has made industry executives furious and denounce “Brussels-led overregulation” that effectively leads to "brand theft".
Campaigners push to hitch tobacco control onto sustainable development agenda
Anti-tobacco campaigners from across Europe today (31 May) called on their national governments to use the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to drive forward tobacco control legislation.
Celebrating 20 years of tobacco control in Europe
What would the world be like if tobacco control NGOs did not exist? What kind of society would we live in? How would our lives be different if the tobacco industry had its way?
Greek government under fire for not implementing smoking ban law
Anti-smoking campaigners heavily criticised the Greek government for not implementing a 2008 law that prohibits smoking in public places. EURACTIV.com reports from Athens.
Andriukaitis: Anti-smoking laws are of little value if they are not implemented
Member states should prioritise laws that protect public health because there is little value in having them if they are not enforced, the EU's health Commissioner told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Don’t thwart an ally in the war on tobacco
Declining smoking rates in Europe mean less tax revenue for many fiscally strained governments. Trying to make up for these losses with a tax on e-cigarettes would be a big mistake, writes Alex Brill.
E-cigarettes are not ‘cool’, EU’s top health official says
Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said he opposed e-cigarettes being advertised as another 'cool' thing to attract young smokers, reminding they must also carry a health warning.
Eurostat: One quarter of EU citizens are smokers
One in four Spaniards over 15 years old (25.3%) is a tobacco smoker. This is slightly higher than the EU average of 24%, according to Eurostat. EURACTIV Spain reports.
WHO denies members failing to pay UN tobacco agency
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is fuming over an NGO report which claims that members do not pay their contributions to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the UN’s tobacco agency.
Greece mulls reimbursement of anti-smoking medicines
In an effort to implement an effective anti-smoking law in enclosed public places, the Greek government is examining whether to start reimbursing the cost of anti-smoking drugs.
EU has chance to stop illegal tobacco trade
The trade in illicit tobacco is a massive problem, but the European Commission has been presented with a golden opportunity to strike a blow against the smugglers. But it must look long-term, writes Eric Lequenne.
Greek smoking ban ineffective
Nearly nine years after it became law, Greece is still struggling to implement a smoking ban in public spaces.