SMOKE FREE PARTNERSHIP POLICY MATERIALS

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.

Brussels, 16 August 2022: Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) submits its contribution to the EU Commission’s public consultation on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD). SFP makes the case for a ban on tobacco filters and a more ambitious liability mechanism for the tobacco industry’s environmental impact and management of the post-consumption waste of its products.

Brussels, 20 July 2022: SFP welcomes the Commission’s initiative to revise its 2009 recommendation on Smoke-Free Environments. Recommendation on Smoke-Free Environments is key if the EU is to denormalize smoking in order to achieve the target set in the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to reduce smoking prevalence across the EU to 5% in 2040.

SFP welcomes the evaluation of the legislative framework for tobacco control (including the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU, Tobacco Advertising Directive 2003/33/EC and other related tobacco control policies across the EU) that aims to safeguard public health and protect young people from tobacco-related harm. SFP in its responses provides policy suggestion to strengthen the legislative framework for tobacco control in line with the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Brussels, 14 February 2022:  Articles 15 and 16 of the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) , and its implementing and delegated acts established the first regional tobacco tracking and tracing system for tobacco products. It aims to support Member States in controlling the supply chain of tobacco products legally manufactured or imported on the EU’s internal market, and in meeting the EU’s and Member States’ obligations under Article 8 of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Brussels, 7 December 2021: the new EU Tobacco Industry Index released by SPF today, with the support of ENSP, EPHA, CEO and ECL, shows revived efforts by the tobacco industry to influence the EU policy making process.

Brussels, November 2021: the TPD as adopted in 2014 contributed significantly to improving the functioning of the internal market and implementing the FCTC at EU level to reduce tobacco use. However, new market and legislative developments in the EU gave rise to new challenges to the functioning of the internal market and to the protection of public health, which must be addressed through the revision of the current Directive. 

Brussels, 02 November:The European Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2021 analyzes how 16 countries in the WHO European Region and the institutions of the European Union are affected by tobacco industry, and how far they have progressed in the implementation of Article 5.3 and its Guidelines that were unanimously adopted.

On the occasion of a special policy dialogue focusing on the Tobacco Products Directive, the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), the European Heart Network (EHN), the European Lung Foundation (ELF), the European Respiratory Society (ERS), and the Smoke Free Partnership (SFP), teamed up to formulate concrete recommendations to EU policy makers towards delivering effective policies to protect in the best way possible children’s and young people’s health from tobacco and to achieve a sustainable tobacco-free future.

Brussels, 29 June 2021: The MEPs Against Cancer Interest Group, the MEP Heart Group, the MEP Lung Health Group and the Smoke Free Partnership held a special policy dialogue on ‘Europe’s path to the Tobacco Products Directive 3.0’ on Tuesday 29 June 2021 from 11:00 – 13:00 CEST. 

A RECORDING OF THE SESSION IS AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJIyzEJ4B4w

Brussels, 23 June 2021: Our newly published paper contains SFP’s policy proposals for the revision of the EU Tobacco Tax Directive 2011/64/EU.

The European Commission consultation focused on updating the rules for tobacco and alcohol bought abroad and improving the misuse of existing cross-border arrangements for such purchases.

The European Commission roadmap focused on updating the rules for tobacco and alcohol bought abroad and improving the misuse of existing cross-border arrangements for such purchases.

December 2020: In light of the ongoing developments on Horizon Europe and its Mission on Cancer, the purpose of this document is to highlight the role of research for tobacco control, especially considering the crucial importance of tobacco control measures for public health. While the document focuses on Horizon Europe, due to the nature of tobacco as a commercial determinant for health the provided recommendations would mostly apply to its Cancer Mission. 

December 2020: The new SFP paper on the Investment Case for the Global Strategy focuses on outlining different pathways for funding, as well as on examples of existing ways to support implementation.

December 2020: Read the SFP Briefing focusing on the Illicit Trade Protocol (ITP) Ratification Status.

Brussels, 19 May 2020: SFP launched its latest briefing paper, titled Tobacco Control for Cancer Prevention.

Brussels, 17 December: the latest, 2019 edition, of the SFP infographic on tobacco industry presence in the EU policy-making environment is out.

SFP's latest Mythbuster is offering argumentation, key facts and figures that disprove six misconceptions on tobacco taxation.

Brussels, 17 December: The latest SFP infographic on tobacco industry presence in the EU policy-making environment is out.

In September 2018, SFP submitted an updated Position Paper on tobacco taxation to the European Commission's consultation on the possible revision of the Tobacco Tax Directive. The latest updated version of the paper, titled Tobacco Tax for a Healthier Europe, can be downloaded further below. 

Brussels, 6 June 2018: Over 25 public officials, MEPs, public health advocates, gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels to mark World No Tobacco Day 2018, on the theme “Tobacco Breaks Hearts” and focusing on the impact of tobacco use on cardiovascular diseases.

In September 2018, the SFP Board adopted the following statement of principles in relation to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in the context of the review of the Tobacco Tax Directive.

Sofia, Bulgaria: following the roundtable organised by SFP in conjunction with the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU on 25-26 April 2018, the report below captures the key discussion points from the meeting.