Smoke free partnership

World No Tobacco Day 2010 | Setting the EU tobacco control agenda and celebrating the 'Pledge'

Sam — 2010-05-18T15:38:47Z

On 31 May, the Smoke Free Partnership organised an event in the European Parliament, Brussels, to celebrate World No Tobacco Day 2010.

The conference provided an opportunity to acknowledge MEPs that are signatories to the Tobacco Free Europe campaign, to mark the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to which the EU and all but one Member State are signatories, and to celebrate The Year of The Lung.

Finally, with a new European Parliament and Commission in place and tobacco legislation now in preparation, the Smoke Free Partnership took this opportunity to reflect on the future of tobacco control at European level.

Hosted by:

Frieda Brepoels MEP
Ryszard Czarnecki MEP
Linda McAvan MEP

Speakers and Panelists:

John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy
Dr. Nedret Emiroglu, WHO EURO Director of Division
Florence Berteletti Kemp, Director - Smoke Free Partnership
Rob Cunningham, International expert on tobacco health warnings - Canadian Cancer Society
Fiona Godfrey, Regional and Legal Advisor, Europe - International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Prof. Gerard Hastings, Director - Institute for Social Marketing (UK)
Andrew Hayes, Past President - European Public Health Alliance
Luk Joossens, Advocacy Officer - Association of European Cancer Leagues
Nicola McFadyen, Youth Advocate, W-West (Why Waste Everything Smoking Tobacco)
Dr. Karine Gallopel Morvan, Associate Professor in Social Marketing - Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Rennes 1
Prof. Nikos Siafakas, President - European Respiratory Society
Natasha Toropova, Advocacy Coordinator in Ukraine - Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Jean King, Cancer Research UK

This event is part of the Tobacco Free Europe Campaign initiative. The Tobacco Free Europe Campaign is committed to transparency about its funding which comes from the Smoke Free Partnership, the European Heart Network, the European Cancer Leagues, the European Respiratory Society, and the European Network for Smoking Prevention, as well as from unrestricted educational grants from Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis.

Conference Material

1. World No Tobacco Day - 31 May - Final Programme

2. World No Tobacco Day - 31 May - Official Press Release

Please see below for some of the pictures from our event:

A gallery of images of the event is also available by clicking here

European Parliament Event: 'EU Better Regulation: from economic to citizen-centric?'

2010-02-23T12:18:34Z

In the European Parliament, Brussels, on 24 February 2010, the Smoke Free Partnership organised an event on the EU Better Regulation agenda, where a ground-breaking report on industry interference into policy-making processes was launched.

Please find below the research report, press release, event report, recommendations and the photographs from "EU Better Regulation: from economic to citizen-centric".

1. The Origin of EU Better Regulation - The Disturbing Truth

2. EU Better Regulation: Press Release

3. EU Better Regulation: Event Report

4. EU Better Regulation: Recommendations

European Parliament Seminar on Combating the Global Illicit Trade in Tobacco and the consequences for Europe and Africa

Sam — 2010-02-18T15:49:13Z

On 1 February 2010, the Smoke Free Partnership organised an event in the European Parliament in Brussels on the global illicit trade in tobacco.

The objective of the seminar was to provide an outline of the crucial discussions that will take place at the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Body meeting (INB4) in Geneva in March 2010, where the final negotiations will take place on the Illicit Trade Protocol, a subsidiary treaty to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). There was a discussion as to how the EU can impact on the negotiations, with a special reference to the problems specific to Africa.

The fifth and sixth issues in the ‘Spotlight on the FCTC' series, which cover tobacco and development policy and the illicit tobacco trade respectively, were launched.

The seminar brought together 70 participants including Members of the European Parliament, senior officials from the European Commission, representatives from the Member States, and public health and tobacco experts.

Present on the panel were Austin Rowan, Head of Unit at the European Commission's Task Group Cigarettes, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF); Dr. Michael Anibueze, Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria; Luk Joossens, International Expert on the Illicit Tobacco Trade and Ian Willmore, Framework Convention Alliance.

The event was hosted by Bart Staes MEP, Vice Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Budgetary Control.

Please see below for the full report plus speaker PowerPoint presentations.

The role of article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in protecting public policy from tobacco industry influence

Nicky — 2008-07-15T12:31:55Z

Tobacco control experts met with European Union Health Commissioner Mrs Androulla Vassiliou and prominent Members of the European Parliament to explore the reasons why normal rules of engagement should not apply to the tobacco industry.

On July 15, the Smokefree Partnership organised a seminar in the European Parliament (Brussels) on the role of article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC in protecting public policy from tobacco industry influence.

The overall aim of the meeting was to inform policy makers, in particular EU Member States and Members of the European Parliament of recent tobacco industry interference across the world and to generate a debate.

The third edition of the ‘Spotlight on the FCTC', which looks at the reasoning behind Article 5.3 was launched on this occasion.

The seminar brought together more than 70 participants including Members of the European Parliament, senior officials from the European Commission and Member State representatives and public health and tobacco experts.

Present on the panel were EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou; Avril Doyle MEP; Akinbode Oluwafemi, Environmental Rights Action's Manager in Lagos, Nigeria; Dr Anna Gilmore, Clinical Reader in Public Health, Health Foundation Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine BANES Primary Care Trust School for Health, University of Bath; Mrs Jean King, Director of Tobacco Control at Cancer Research UK and Dr Francois Decaillet Senior Advisor and representative to the EU of WHO Regional Office for Europe.

The seminar was hosted by Mrs Avril Doyle, MEP.

Launch of the "Spotlight on the FCTC"

margarida — 2008-01-30T12:21:46Z

What does the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) mean for the EU? If you want to find out, read the first issue of a series of briefings “Spotlight on the FCTC”, which are available in 17 EU languages

The first briefing paper "Spotlight on the FCTC” was launched on January 30 at a cocktail reception in the European Parliament, Brussels. The event was hosted by Linda McAvan MEP and was also be attended by many key MEPS, Commission officials and national attaches.

What is the FCTC? The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was developed in response to the globalisation of the tobacco epidemic and was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2003. It was the world's first international public health treaty and has since been ratified by 151 countries, making it one of the fastest ever treaties on any subject to be ratified and to enter into force. Of the 27 EU countries, 25 have ratified, along with the entire Western Pacific WHO region, 40 out of the 54 AFRO countries, and 7 Caribbean countries. The FCTC identifies key interventions that will bring down smoking prevalence if enacted and aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. In particular, the FCTC aims to ensure that tobacco manufacturers cannot take advantage of less strict regulatory environments in the developing world. The WHO FCTC negotiations have already begun a process that has resulted in visible differences at national level, but the continued success of the FCTC as a tool for public health will depend on the energy and political commitment of national governments and international bodies such as the EU over the coming years. We hope that the Spotlight on the FCTC briefings, by informing policy makers of their obligations, will spark off initiatives to drive forward the implementation of the FCTC at European, national and local levels, so that the Convention becomes a concrete reality.

Lunch Debate on FCTC and the Need for a Smuggling Protocol

Nicky — 2007-07-10T08:29:58Z

On the 20th June, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Smokefree Partnership organised a lunchtime debate on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the need for a protocol to deal with smuggling.

On the 20th June in the European Parliament (Strasbourg) the SmokeFree Partnership (European Respiratory Society, Cancer Research UK and Institut National du Cancer), together with the European Public Health Alliance/Action for Global Health and the Framework Convention Alliance, organised a lunch debate on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the need for a protocol to deal with smuggling. The debate was co-hosted by Dutch MEP Jules Maaten (ALDE) and German MEP Frithjof Schmidt (Greens). Speakers included Dr Douglas Bettcher from the Tobacco Free Initiative of the WHO, Dr Ahmed Ogwell, regional representative for Africa of FCA and Mr Austin Rowan, Head of Operations, Task Group Cigarettes, OLAF. Around 40 people attended the lunch debate, including 14 MEPs and several parliamentary assistants.

A full report can be accessed below.

Public hearing on reduced-ignition propensity cigarettes (RIP)

Nicky — 2007-04-03T09:13:55Z

A European campaign to ensure that only 'fire safer' cigarettes are produced and marketed in the EU was launched at a hearing in the European Parliament on 28 February 2007. The event was hosted by Ms Arlene McCarthy, MEP and Chair of the EP Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, and opened by MEP Ms Catherine Sithler.

A European campaign to ensure that only 'fire safer' cigarettes are produced and marketed in the EU was launched at a hearing in the European Parliament on 28 February 2007. The event was hosted by Ms Arlene McCarthy, MEP and Chair of the EP Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, and opened by MEP Ms Catherine Sithler.

What is next

1. The next General Product Safety Directive meeting to discuss fire safer cigarettes is being held in June in Brussels. We need organisations at national level to write to their government before the meeting, asking them to support legislation on fire safer cigarettes.

2. Other Members of the European Parliament and representatives of EU organisations and associations are invited to join the EU RIP Alliance by signing the Pledge in the coming days, weeks and months.

3. The RIP Coalition in the UK has joined with the EU RIP Alliance to campaign for fire safer cigarettes in Europe. We would like to hear from other organisations in Europe who are interested in the campaign for fire safer cigarettes, either by joining the European Coalition or by looking to establish a National Coalition.

4. In view of the fact that it is technologically and economically feasible for cigarettes to meet fire safety standards, the EU RIP Alliance aims to promote, in collaboration with other EU organisations such as the European Fire Safety Network and the RIP coalition in the UK, the introduction of reduced-ignition propensity cigarettes based on the same standard as in New York and Canada (ASTM International E2187).

5. Finally, a Parliamentary Declaration will be launched soon. We will need organisations to write to their MEPS to sign the Declaration in support of the introduction of fire safety standards for cigarettes.

Lifting the smokescreen: 10 reasons for going smokefree

margarida — 2007-02-21T07:55:33Z

In March 2006 the Smoke Free Partnership published ‘Lifting the smokescreen: 10 reasons for going smokefree'. The report was officially launched at the European Parliament on March 21, by MEPs Liz Lynne (UK, Liberal Democrat) and Adamos Adamou (Cyprus, European United Left–Nordic Green Left).

In March 2006 the Smoke Free Partnership, together with the European Heart Network, published ‘Lifting the smokescreen: 10 reasons for going smokefree'. The report was officially launched at the European Parliament on March 21, by MEPs Liz Lynne (UK, Liberal Democrat) and Adamos Adamou (Cyprus, European United Left–Nordic Green Left).

According to this report, passive smoking currently kills 79,000 European Union (EU) citizens a year: 72,000 of these deaths are due to second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure at home and 7,000 are due to SHS exposure at work. The report also found that, based on current EU smoking prevalence levels and the impact of the smoking ban in Ireland, and if all countries brought in and enforced bans such as those in Ireland, about 5-10 million smokers would give up smoking.

Lifting the Smokescreen was presented with the Best Smoke Free Research Policy Award 2006 at the Global Smokefree Partnership inaugural awards, during the 13th World Conference on Tobacco or Health. Sylviane Richard Davidson of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and Fiona Godfrey (EU Policy Advisor, representing the ERS) accepted the award on behalf of the partnership.

10 reasons for going smokefree

Second-hand smoke exposure kills and harms health;
Every worker has the right to be protected from exposure to tobacco smoke;
Scientific evidence shows that ventilation does not protect against exposure to tobacco smoke;
Smoke free laws do not result in negative economic effects;
Freedom of choice includes the responsibility not to harm others;
The public supports smoke free legislation;
The public complies with smoke free legislation;
It has been done elsewhere. It can be done everywhere;
It is a cost-effective public health intervention;
Comprehensive smoke free policies work.

Smokefree Europe conference: 2 June 2005

margarida — 2007-02-16T09:40:00Z

The Smoke free Europe 2005 Conference was held in Luxembourg on June 2. It was jointly organised by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), European Cancer Leagues (ECL), European Heart Network, la Ligue National contre le Cancer (LNCC-France), and the ERS. The conference was endorsed by the Luxembourg EU Presidency and politicians from 10 different EU countries shared their countries experiences.

The Smoke free Europe 2005 Conference was held in Luxembourg on June 2. It was jointly organised by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), European Cancer Leagues (ECL), European Heart Network, la Ligue National contre le Cancer (LNCC-France), and the ERS. The conference brought together, for the first time, the European level public and private sector employers' associations, trade unions and hospitality sector with the politicians who have taken their countries smokefree or who would like to, and leading researchers who have investigated the economic and behavioural effects of smokefree policies in Ireland and elsewhere.

The conference was endorsed by the Luxembourg EU Presidency and politicians from 10 different EU countries shared their countries experiences.

At the conference, the Smoke free Partnership launched a report on the cost effectiveness of comprehensive smoke free policies. The report, presented by Mr Luk Joossens, compares the economic impact clean air legislation had in different countries and analyses the economic role in the tobacco prevention process.

Key conference messages

• Secondhand smoke is a killer • Everyone has the right to a smokefree workplace • Smokefree laws are good for business • Smokefree laws are good for politicians • Smokefree laws help people quit smoking • Ventilation doesn't work (hurricane-level ventilation is needed to have any effect on clearing ETS from the air) • As health organisations, we want to work with employers, trade unions and the hospitality sector to ensure that all of Europe's workers enjoy the health benefits of smokefree

Pictures of the launch of "Lifting the Smokescreen"

Wolfgang — 2007-02-05T15:56:51Z
- Public events / image gallery