G/TBT/N/EU/297  
 
29 June 2015  
(15-3340)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: EUROPEAN UNION  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):    
2. Agency responsible: European Commission 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :  
European Commission 
EU-TBT Enquiry Point 
Fax:  +(32) 2 299 80 43 E-mail:  grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu Website: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/tbt/  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Tobacco Products 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document: Draft Commission 
Implementing Decision on the technical specifications for the layout, design and shape of the combined health warnings for tobacco products for smoking (5 pages plus Annex 3 pages, in 
English).  
6. Description of content: This draft Commission Implementing Decision establishes the 
layout, design and shape of the combined health warnings. 
Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the 
approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products and 
repealing Directive 2001/37/EC provides for, in Article 10, combined health warnings which 
should cover 65% of the front and back surfaces of unit packets and any outside packaging of cigarettes and roll your own (and other smoking tobacco if Member States 
opt for this). The combined health warnings should consist of a text warning listed in 
Annex I and a corresponding colour photograph specified in the picture library in Annex II of the Directive and should contain cessation information, such as a telephone number or 
an internet website. The layout, design and shape of the combined health warnings shall 
be established through implementing legislation.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
Ensure uniform application of the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU G/TBT/N/EU/297 
 
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  8. Relevant documents:  Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 3 April 2014 on the approximation of  the laws, regulations and administrative 
provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of 
tobacco and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC (Text with EEA 
relevance), OJ L 127, 29/04/2014, p. 1–38  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1398761379066&uri=OJ:JOL_2014_127_R_0001  
9. Proposed date of adoption: Fourth quarter 2015 
Proposed date of entry into force: The provisions shall enter into force immediately after 
adoption (The Directive will need to be transposed into national legislation by 20 May 2016.)   
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from notification 
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [  ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
European Commission 
EU-TBT Enquiry Point Fax: + (32) 2 299 80 43 
E-mail: grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu 
The text is available on the Website: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/tbt/  
https://members. wto.org/crnattachments/2015/TBT/EEC/15_2498_00_e.pdf  
https://members. wto.org/crnattachments/2015/TBT/EEC/15_2498_01_e.pdf