systems, etc. The Tobacco Control Scale uses a systematic scoring system that permits comparison in 30 European countries, and this study presents preliminary results using the new scale. As we have indicated, we think it will be necessary to add policies to the scale, especially policies to reduce the harmfulness of tobacco products. At the moment regulation of nicotine and tobacco products is not based on rational or public health grounds, so as better regulation develops in some countries, the tobacco control scale should reflect it, especially in view of its enormous potential impact on public health. There is already vigorous discussion in the tobacco control field of the role smokeless tobacco in Sweden (snus) has played in the decline in smoking prevalence. 33 -- 36 The need for more funding on tobacco control and research In the EU, only the UK spent more than _2 per capita per year on tobacco control. The 2004 ASPECT report recommended that EU members immediately increase per capita spending by _1 -- 3. The best system is illustrated by Iceland, where the law obliges the government to spend at least 0.9% of total consumer spending on tobacco, on tobacco control: per capita spending is _2.27 per annum. 37 However, tobacco control spending by the tobacco industry appears to be extremely bad for tobacco control and tobacco control budgets. Tobacco control funding by the German government was only _0.01 per capita in 2004 -- an incredible 1 cent. Spending appears to be low because