# CE2004078EN.01012501.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/125 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/125

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(2004/C 78 E/0127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2546/03

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 July 2003)

Subject:   Evaluation of tobacco products

Subject:

Article 11 of Directive 2001/37/EC (1) requires that the Commission submits by 31 December 2004 a report to the European Parliament on the application of the said directive.

1

More specifically Article 11 of Directive 2001/37/EC states, amongst other things, that scientific and technical experts should assist in preparing the report and that the report should include an evaluation of tobacco products which may have a potential to reduce harm.

| 1. | What measures has the Commission taken to involve scientific and technical experts in producing the report, particularly in view of the evaluation of tobacco products which may have a potential to reduce harm? |
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1.

What measures has the Commission taken to involve scientific and technical experts in producing the report, particularly in view of the evaluation of tobacco products which may have a potential to reduce harm?

| 2. | Will the Commission report, as required by Article 11 of Directive 2001/37/EC, include an evaluation of tobacco products which may have a potential to reduce harm? |
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2.

Will the Commission report, as required by Article 11 of Directive 2001/37/EC, include an evaluation of tobacco products which may have a potential to reduce harm?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2003)

(11 September 2003)

The Honourable Member asks in particular what measures the Commission has taken to involve scientific and technical experts in producing the report required by article 11 of Directive 2001/37/EC (2) on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products, particularly ‘in view of the evaluation of tobacco products which may have a potential to reduce harm’. In addition, the Honourable Member asks if the said report will include an evaluation of tobacco products, which may have a potential to reduce harm.

2

The recent opinions and reports from the scientific community make it very clear that the issue (possible ‘harm reduction’ tobacco products) referred to in the written question must be very carefully analysed. The matter is complex and difficult, and the Commission intends to get a comprehensive and balanced analysis and scientific advice. To be able to achieve this, the Commission intends to involve appropriately the scientific community and the Regulatory Committee in this process while preparing the report. The Commission has already had preparatory consultations with scientific experts in the field. The first expert consultation involving all Member States will take place on 29 September 2003, after which the direction to be taken should be clear.

The report containing, as foreseen in the Directive, an evaluation of tobacco products that may have the potential to reduce harm is due by the end of 2004.

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(1)  OJ L 194, 18.7.2001, p. 26.

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(2)  Directive 2001/37/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products — Commission statement, OJ L 194, 18.7.2001.

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