No C 159/44 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 89 
of having this revised regularly in the light of new 
scientific evidence. Different national lists should not 
be allowed to constitute a technical barrier to trade. 
6.9. Article 5.7 
'Typical' would be better than 'average'. The same 
applies to the definitions in Article l(k). 
6.10. Article 5.8 
Although this is not an ideal solution, the Commission 
should look at the possibility of using charts or visual 
symbols as permitted alternatives to words. However, 
Done at Brussels, 26 April 1989. 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The recommendation to ban smoking in public 
places forms part of the campaign against tobacco 
contained in the 'Europe against cancer' programme. 
This programme received the endorsement of the Econ­
omic and Social Committee (2). such alternative methods of presentation would need 
to be harmonized, so as to avoid further barriers to 
trade. 
6.11. Article 7 
The Committee approves the timing proposals given 
by the Commission, i.e. x months after notification; 
and would encourage the Commission to use this 
method for proposals in orther directives as well. 
6.12. General 
Standard methods of food analysis and common tables 
of nutrient contents for food must be agreed between 
the Member States. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
1.2. This is the fourth Committee referral in this 
area. The previous three concerned: 
— the proposal for a Council Directive on the approxi­
mation of taxes on cigarettes, and the proposal for 
a Council Directive on the approximation of taxes 
on manufactured tobacco other than cigarettes (3), Opinion on the draft Council recommendation on banning smoking in public places(1) 
(89/C 159/16) 
On 19 January 1989, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned recommendation. 
The Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs, which 
was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 
4 April 1989. The rapporteur was Mr Ferraz da Silva. 
At its 265th plenary session (meeting of 26 April 1989) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion by 71 votes to 25, with 19 abstentions. 
(!) OJ No C 32, 8. 2. 1989, p. 9. 
(2) OJ No C 105, 21. 4. 1987. (3) OJ No C 237, 12. 9. 1988. 
26. 6. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 159/45 
— the proposal for a Council Directive on the approxi­
mation of the laws, regulations and administrative 
provisions of the Member States concerning the 
labelling of tobacco products (*), 
— the proposal for a Council Directive on the approxi­
mation of the laws, regulations and administrative 
provisions of the Member States concerning the 
maximum tar yield of cigarettes (2). 
2. General comments 
2.1. The Committee approves the proposal, subject 
to the following comments. 
2.2. The Committee is pleased to see that the Com­
mission is continuing its action against tobacco use. 
Such action is an effective way of reducing the number 
of deaths caused by cancer in the Community, and 
of reducing the incidence of other illnesses (fatal or 
otherwise) caused by contact with tobacco smoke. 
2.3. The Committee realizes that the campaign 
against tobacco will take a long time and will require 
educational measures and medical support for those 
who stop smoking. However, it feels that a recommen­
dation is an inadequate and rather limited tool for 
solving the problem. 
2.4. In its Opinion on the tar content of cigarettes (3), 
the Committee stressed that 'every effort must be made 
in the interests of personal and public health to reduce 
smoking in general'. 
2.5. The Committee is well aware that smoking 
brings an increased risk of illness and early death, as it 
carries a high risk of cancer and involves a specific 
carcinogen. 
2.6. Recent studies backed by the World Health 
Organization have shown that non-smokers who come 
into contact with tobacco smoke in closed environments 
are equally at risk. Pregnant women (and the foetus), 
children, the elderly, and sufferers from respiratory 
diseases, bronchitis and heart disease are particularly 
vulnerable. 
2.7. The burning of tobacco gives off: 
— carcinogens: 
— benzopyrene, 
— 5-methylchrysene, 
— dibenzanthracene; 
— other chemicals which can encourage carcino­
genesis: 
— volatile phenols, 
— acidic compounds. 2.8. The carcinogens in tobacco exhaled by the 
smoker may combine with other carcinogens in the 
atmosphere to increase the risk not only of lung cancer, 
but also of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, 
stomach, etc. 
2.9. The smoking of cigarettes, cigars, etc. is also 
an accident and fire hazard. In most Member States, 
smoking was initially banned in public places in order 
to reduce the risk of fires. 
2.10. All forms of tobacco use, but particularly those 
which entail contact with tobacco smoke, increase the 
risk of premature death and illness among users. 
2.11. The Committee also notes that scientific data 
and reports on the subject have shown again and again 
that tobacco is one of the main sources of air pollution 
in enclosed areas. 
The European Parliament (4) has emphasized the need 
to pay due attention to the problem of air quality in 
indoor environments, given that human beings spend 
most of their lives indoors. 
The Committee would also point out that in the fourth 
environmental action programme the Commission 
undertook to 'define and implement preventive 
measures against indoor pollution'. 
2.12. The Committee therefore asks the Commission 
to consider making its measures to ban smoking in 
public places part of a wider strategy to protect air 
quality in indoor environments. 
2.13. Whilst realizing the possible economic and 
social implications of measures to reduce tobacco con­
sumption, the Committee trusts that in the interests of 
public health the Commission will press ahead with the 
actions scheduled in its campaign against tobacco. 
2.14. Smokers become psycho-socially dependent on 
cigarettes (stress, or peer-group pressure, or as a form 
of 'worry-bead') and physically dependent on nicotine. 
Smoking is thus a serious social problem. Mindful of 
this, the Committee urges the Commission to submit 
another more aggressive package of measures to comp­
lement the measures already taken. This should include 
(*) OJ No C 48, 20. 2. 1988, p. 8. 
(2) OJ No C 48, 20. 2. 1988, p. 10. 
(3) OJ No C 237, 12. 9. 1988. (4) OJ No C 290, 14. 11. 1988. 
No C 159/46 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 89 
a hard-hitting campaign featuring European person­
alities, targeted specifically at young people, and the 
setting-up of special centres to help people who wish 
to stop smoking. 
2.15. The Committee notes that the Commission is 
to present the Council with a proposal for a Directive 
regulating advertising of tobacco brands. 
Given the undisputed harm which tobacco causes, the 
Committee would like to see a Community-level move 
by Member States towards outlawing direct or indirect 
tobacco advertising (including sponsorship of sports 
events). 
2.16. There is growing concern that children are 
being encouraged to smoke through the ready avail­
ability of imitation products (they wish to imitate the 
adult). 
The Commission is therefore urged to present a pro­
posal, perhaps as part of action 8 (protection of chil­
dren), to discourage the manufacture and sale of such 
products. 
In the meantime, every effort should be made to point 
out the harmful effects that imitation tobacco products 
can and will have in the programme to discourage 
people now and in the future from using tobacco prod­
ucts. 
Done at Brussels, 26 April 1989. 3. Specific comments 
3.1. Preamble 
The Committee suggests that the preamble to the rec­
ommendation should include a reference to the risk of 
accident or fire associated with cigarette smoking. 
3.2. Point 1, second paragraph 
Areas reserved for smokers should be equipped with 
systems for changing for air. 
The Committee suggests that the words 'equipped with 
proper systems for changing the air' be added after 
'clearly defined areas'. 
3.3. Point 3 
Taking safety as the paramount consideration, the 
Committee wonders whether such a ban is workable 
on all forms of transport if no maximum journey-time 
is set. It would prefer to see a distinction between 
(a) means of transport where the measure could be 
implemented immediately without compromising safety 
(e.g. trains, boats), as separate compartments may be 
provided for smokers and non-smokers, and (b) means 
of transport where separation is more difficult (e.g. 
planes, buses). For the latter cases, until efficient tech­
niques are devised, a maximum journey-time (such as 
three hours) should be set; outside this period, smoking 
would be allowed in areas set aside for the purpose. 
3.4. Annex 1 
The Annex should be revised accordingly. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE