WRITTEN QUESTION E-3713/00 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Research into the effects of the ban on tobacco exports.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: economic consequence, export restriction, health policy, international convention, job preservation, smoking, tobacco, tobacco industry

C 187 E/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

(2001/C 187 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3713/00

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Research into the effects of the ban on tobacco exports

(30 November 2000)

According to the tobacco industry, the restrictions on the preparation and export of tobacco products
proposed in the new tobacco directive will lead to the loss of jobs in the EU. What detailed research
material does the Commission possess on the effects of the new tobacco directive on the employment
situation of the tobacco industry in the various EU countries?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

It is unclear to what extent the Community production of cigarettes for export exceeds the proposed
ceilings for tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields. According to information provided in the course of
meetings between the Commission and representatives of the tobacco industry, cigarette exports from the
Community would equal approximately 15 % of total Community cigarette production but of course only
a fraction of the exported cigarettes would exceed the proposed ceilings.

Thus, it is difficult to estimate what percentage of Community production would be concerned if the
measures proposed are adopted, what possibilities exist for diversification, and what effect a transitional
period could have. In general terms, as regards the employment characteristics of the tobacco manufactur-
ing industry, a report was published by the European Confederation of Cigarette Manufacturers in 1997 (1),
and on page 11 of this report, the following statement is made: (cid:145)Based on the information provided by the
tobacco manufacturing associations in the Member States, full-time employment in tobacco manufacturing
has declined since 1990. For the EU12, the number of full-time jobs fell 23 % to 64 184 in 1994 from
83 419 in 1990. The decline is in common with the trends exhibited across most manufacturing sectors in
the EU. This trend towards lower employment is mainly due to continued improvements in labour
productivity, which are associated with the industry(cid:146)s investment in more efficient equipment.(cid:146)

Thus, the origin of the decline in employment, according to the relevant industry federation, is due to
sources outside the control of the Community legislator.

Attention is also drawn to the current negotiations for a World Health Organisation Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control, which envisages the creation of internationally agreed product standards,
which would be complementary to those being discussed at the level of the Community.

The Commission is not in possession of detailed research material of the type referred to by the
Honourable Member.

(1)

(cid:145)The tobacco industry in the European Union 1997(cid:146), Pieda plc.

(2001/C 187 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3714/00

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Access to information on the extension of Barajas airport in Madrid

In its reply of 5 July 2000 to our Question No E-1518/00 (1) regarding the implementation of Council
Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 (2) on freedom of access to information on the environment, the
Commission stated that the authorities had acted on the requests, although they had replied late.