SMOKE FREE PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

The Communications Intern supports the implementation of the SFP multi-annual strategy and annual work plans. S/he will work closely with the SFP Director within a small team and will have cross-cutting responsibilities to support the communication of SFP’s work towards its stakeholders. S/he will assist SFP’s communications strategy and will represent SFP and its positions externally. In addition, the Communications intern will ensure the two-way communication with SFP Coalition members and the timely reaction to network and partner requests.

Brussels, 21 December: the latest 2022 edition, of the SFP infographic on the declared tobacco industry presence in the EU policy-making environment is out.

Brussels, 15 December 2022: The Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) welcomes the Commission’s initiative to revise the 2009 Recommendation on smoke-free environments. SFP agrees that such a revision is much needed, given the latest market developments, the latest findings of studies regarding the impact of tobacco smoke and emerging products’ aerosols on health and the environment, the specific vulnerability of children to second-hand and third-hand tobacco smoke, and the wide divergence of smoke-free laws across Member States.

The presentation of the Council Directive 2011/64/EU on excise rules for tobacco (the Tobacco Tax Directive - TTD) was planned for 7 December 2022 in line with the European Commission published work programme for 2022. The release has been postponed. This cannot be a surprise given the tobacco industry’s omnipresence, lobbying and interference at the EU level.

Brussels, 2 December 2022 - The 2021 Tobacco Control Scale was presented today at the ICO-WHO Symposium on Tobacco Control in Barcelona. The new ranking describes the tobacco control actions (price increase, smoking bans in public places, etc) implemented in 37 European countries in 2021 (EU 27 countries + Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK and Turkey). The scale shows Ireland, UK and France leading the ranking while Serbia, Switzerland and Bosnia & Herzegovina show poor results.

Brussels, 1 December 2022: Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) welcome the solicitation for feedback to review the 2017 rules that set out EU standards on tracking and tracing of tobacco products. The amendments seek to tailor the tracing system to reflect the data sets that are generated during its real world functioning.

The sale of cigarettes is incredibly profitable for tobacco giants. In 2018, the six biggest tobacco producers made a tidy sum of 55 billion dollars in profit. That's more than Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Nestlé, Mondelez, Fedex, General Mills (including Häagen-Dazs), Starbucks, Heineken and Carlsberg put together.

The Policy Officer supports the implementation of the SFP strategy and annual work plans. S/he will work closely with the SFP Director within a small team and will have policy campaign responsibilities. S/he will have a responsibility to execute SFP’s policy strategy and allocated deliverables and will represent SFP and its positions externally. 

Brussels, 7 November - SFP welcomes the Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100 that was published in the Official Journal on November 3, 2022. This Directive imposes a ban on heated tobacco flavours, and mandatory labelling requirements for heated tobacco products, as for cigarettes, in accordance with Art. 11 of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).

Today, 29 September 2022, the Philip Morris Germany organises an “after work cocktail reception” in the strategically located Place du Luxembourg (PLUX) to “exchange ideas” with the assistants of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

SFP and CEO sent a letter to MEPs urging them and their cabinet members in EU Parliament not to lend their credibility and profile to the tobacco industry and not to contribute to legitimising a company or an industry with such an abysmal track record. 

Brussels, 15 September 2022: the Board of the Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) is delighted to announce that Lilia Olefir has been appointed as SFP Director.

Fifteen members of the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance have called, in a joint statement, for the European Commission to include Operating Grants for health NGOs in the EU4Health 2023 Work Programme.

The Comité National Contre Le Tabagisme (CNCT), one of the Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) main partners, was instrumental in the incorporation of a mention of Article 5.3 in the ethics guide that was disseminated to all members of the French National Assembly.

The second edition of the SFP Newsletter is out.

Learn about policy updates, SFP policy materials submitted to the Commission and read the news from our partners.

This internship is an excellent opportunity for anyone willing to develop hands-on knowledge about EU-level policymaking, advocacy, and communications in the health, environment, and sustainability areas while working for a purpose in a motivated and mission-driven team.

On 25 July, Trends published a long interview with Frederic De Wilde, CEO of Philip Morris Europe. He labels his company as a good example of a sector in transition. But is this credible? Other newspapers published an article on 23 June regarding PMI’s takeovers and investments in wellness and healthcare, of all things.