Split over tougher rules on tobacco

Member states water down Commission proposal, but MEPs want stricter rules. Member states and MEPs are on a collision course over proposed rules to strengthen tobacco controls in the European Union. On Friday (21 June), health ministers voted to slightly water down the European Commission's proposal on tobacco rules. But MEPs want tougher rules that go further than the Commission's proposal.

Ministers removed from the Commission's proposal a ban on slim cigarettes. However, they said these cigarettes should be sold in normal-sized packets to reduce their appeal to young people.

The ministers backed a proposed ban on flavoured cigarettes, including menthol. They also backed a requirement for large pictorial warnings to be printed on all cigarette packets, but reduced the amount that would have to be covered from 75% to 65%. The compromises were made to ease the concerns of central and eastern European member states that believe the restrictions would harm their economies. But the amendments failed to satisfy Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania, which voted against the Council's position.

Speaking after the vote, Tonio Borg, the European commissioner for health, said the Council's position respected the intent behind the Commission's proposal. “The main thrust is that tobacco should look like tobacco, not like perfume or candy, and that it should taste like tobacco as well,” he said. But many MEPs want tougher rules. British centre-left MEP Linda McAvan, who will lead the Parliament's negotiating team, wants the EU to ban the use of logos and trademarks, and force all cigarettes to adopt ‘plain packaging'.

The Parliament's environment and health committee, which is responsible for the dossier, will vote on 10 July. The committee tends to take a strong line on such issues – but other parliamentary committees rejected the most ambitious anti-smoking amendments in advisory opinions last week.

E-cigarettes

There is likely to be disagreement on electronic cigarettes, which are largely unregulated in the EU. The Commission has proposed that e-cigarettes containing 4 milligrammes or more of nicotine must be classed as medicinal products. Health campaigners said such a move could hurt a product that many people use to help them quit smoking. But ministers voted to make the rules on e-cigarettes even tougher, lowering the threshold to 1mg.

Source: By Dave Keating http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/split-over-tougher-rules-on-tobacco/77667.aspx

Bernardi denies pro-tobacco rules violations ties

Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has denied that he had violated disclosure rules of parliamentary failing to declare their relationship with the right pro-tobacco group fighting gun control. Senator Bernardi insisted that he did not have to announce their participation in the American Legislative Exchange Council, because he did not believe it creates a conflict of interest. Labor and Greens called for him to be stood down as chairman of the committee Senator interests those policy declarations. American Council, which has financial ties to big tobacco companies lobbied against the Gillard government to a simple law of tobacco packaging. ALEC is also working with the National Rifle Association to block the planned instrument of repression by U.S. President Barack Obama. ALEC member since 2009, Senator Bernardi was cast as parliamentary private secretary of opposition leader Tony Abbott in September, after he made a speech in Parliament who opposed the legislation on same-sex marriage on the grounds that it could lead to calls to legalize bestiality and polygamy. On Sunday, Fairfax Media reported that Senator Bernardi served as an international delegate Alec and as a member of its international target group relations. But Senator Bernardi explained his cash register was full'' before'' date. He said senators are required to disclose official status, the organization in which donations of more than $ 300 have been made, or where the membership could lead to a conflict of interest. '' None of which applies to my status with Alec, which supports the federation of international membership, free markets and limited government,'' he said on Sunday. However, the rules say senators are required to disclose'' any other interests where a conflict of interest with the public duties of senators may be foreseeable or be seen there.'' Greens Senator Richard Di Natale said Senator Bernardi was'' unfit to chair the committee'' interests of senators. In a letter released on Sunday, Senator Bernardi said he was not contacted by Fairfax Media before the story was published. But Fairfax Media also contact his office and keeps a history.

The area of the company recalled the rules of tobacco products

While some sellers are bound by the rules when it comes to selling tobacco products to underage people, unfortunately, there are some who are still trying to get, do not follow state law. Etailers, in addition to the retail trade throughout West Virginia, recently received the materials that will remind and help them comply with state law (WV State Code 16-9A-2), which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to youth under the age of 18 years. Although many officials already have other materials available to them, it became known, many are still convinced, WV State Code 16-9A-2, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to young people and a small, sometimes confused when checking the date of birth on identifiers. Because of the high staff turnover, many retailers have to train employees on a regular basis. This is also the reason for the development and spread of See Red? Proceedings of the retail education. Financed with Federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPTA) block grant funds through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Mental Health and medical facilities, "See the red?" The material was sent to all retailers in the state. Material retail education consists of two leaflets (for clarity) as well as labels for the registers resemble the law clerks. It has been reported, "See Red?" The materials were designed for simplicity, reminding owners / corporations and their employees not to sell tobacco products to customers under the age of 18 years, as many do not have much time to read volumes of information. Messages contained in the material covers retail to know that it is illegal to sell tobacco products to youth under the age of 18 years. Tobacco products include cigarettes, cigarette papers, pipes, cigars, blunts, small cigars (cigarillos), snuff and chewing tobacco, which includes chewing and other tobacco products. Retailers are also encouraged to always ask for ID when selling tobacco products and make sure the ID is not false. It has been reported, there are two WV graduated driver's license for young people aged under 18 who are currently active ID. One license, which is now closed, has a bright red background with a yellow stripe on the edge of the photo that shows the date the person turns 18. This license is not valid on the date of expiration. A second license has a red background, but it has the date of the youth turns 18, and 21 listed in the top right corner of the license. Employees should make sure to verify your date of birth using the red color coding (von license) as a red flag. If a customer tries to buy tobacco to 18 years listed on their licenses, they are not old enough to do it. They also said that if young people do not have ID, and not for sale. It's not worth the risk of being fined, and in some cases, fired. Citations issued for failure to state WV Code 16-9A-2 issued to the clerk at the point of sale, together with the shop owner and / or corporation. WV State Code 16-9A-2 indicates that subsequent violations at the same location or operating unit, firm, corporation or individual would lead to graduated fines. In addition, any employer who discovers that his or her employee sold or furnishing tobacco products to young people in the minor may dismiss a worker for the cause. Any such discharge is regarded as a "flagrant violation" for purposes of determining eligibility of the employee was discharged for unemployment benefits in accordance with WV State Code 16-9A-2, if the employer fails to provide written notice to the employee in the workplace, that such act or acts may result in to stop them from working. He also said that the federal mandate and complement the tobacco compliance checks are implemented during the year by various agencies in order to monitor compliance with WV State Code 16-9A-2. Any clerk who sells tobacco products by youth inspector compliance inspections will be listed on the site, a law enforcement officer. The shop owner / corporation will also be links. Secretary / shop owner / corporation will not only pay a penalty, but will also have to pay court costs. Reasons for retailers not to sell tobacco products to youth under the age of 18 years, include the following: This is against the law, we do not want retailers to get into trouble, it is harmful to children's health, and West Virginia could lose $ 3.5 million per year in Federal block grant dollars curative and preventive services should be a national of non-compliance (RVR-retailer violation rate) by more than 20 percent. In addition, the adoption of the Law on the Prevention of Smoking and Family Law Tobacco Control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that retailers verify the age of purchasers of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, which are under the age of 27 with the help of photographic identification containing the date of birth of bearer. For more information about the retail requirements / penalties for Smoking Prevention and Family Law Tobacco Control.