Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/550304
44 tobaccoasia "If consumers are unable to find their preferred products, smugglers will make sure they are available" Above: Flags fly outside the EU parliament. Above right: EU member of parliament Linda McEvan The proposal to ban entire product categories such as menthol cigarettes also came under fire, firstly for not being based on any sound evidence, and again for being of benefit to criminals. "If consumers are unable to find their preferred prod- ucts through legal channels, smugglers will make sure they are available from the boot of their car," JTI said. It is argued that the TPD will also threaten jobs, investment and tax revenue. lation requires that health warnings cover at least 30% of the area of the front of the pack and 40% of the back. The proposed text would increase this to 65%. Packs of fewer than 20 cigarettes would be banned. Dual route for e-cigarettes As proposed by MEPs, e-cigarettes should be regulated either as medicinal products, if they are presented as having curative or preventive properties, or alternatively as tobacco products. In the latter case, they should not contain nicotine in a concentration of more than 20 mg/ ml. Refillable cartridges would be allowed, albeit with a clause enabling the Commission to extend the ban if such cartridges are prohibited in at least three member states. A single cartridge should contain the equiva- lent in nicotine of a pack of cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes should be childproof and should carry health warnings. They would be subject to the same advertising restrictions as tobacco products. (For more on the current climate for e-cigarettes, see the feature on page 34) Additives listed; flavors banned The draft text would ban flavorings in cigarettes and roll- your-own tobacco that would make the product more attractive by giving it a "characterizing fla- vor". Menthol would be banned from 2020. Fla- vors would be allowed for water pipes. In addition, a "priority list" of additives al- lowed in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco would be laid down by the European Commis- sion. Although, additives essential to produce to- bacco, such as sugar, would be authorized. Regarding cross-border distance (internet) sales of tobacco products, member states will be entitled to prohibit them if they choose, and re- tailers will not be permitted to supply consumers located in those member states. In member states that do not prohibit such sales, retailers must follow stricter notification rules and make use of an age verification system. "While the legitimate tobacco sector directly and indirectly employs around 1.5 million people across the EU," Townsend said, "the illegal trade in tobacco is already costing EU countries around €12.5 billion a year. This is what is at stake." These are some of the main changes. Health warnings will rise to around two- thirds of the pack, front and back. Current legis-