WRITTEN QUESTION E-2711/03 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Free-base nicotine.
Date: 2003-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer information, marketing, public health, tobacco industry

C 78 E/418

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0439)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2711/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Free-base nicotine

American scientists from the University of Oregon (Oregon Health and Science University) have measured
the free-base nicotine content of cigarettes. The tobacco industry has so far refused to make these figures
public. Free-base nicotine causes the addiction to cigarettes. The higher the free-base nicotine content, the
quicker smokers get their nicotine kick. According to the researchers, some brands are up to 20 times
more addictive than others. The American brand American Spirit, for instance, contains 36 % of free-base
nicotine. The Marlboro brand contains 10 % free-base nicotine, Gauloises Blondes 7,5 % and in Camel
cigarettes researchers found 2,7 % free-base nicotine.

Is the Commission aware of this research?

What conclusions does it draw from this new data?

What does the Commission think of the Netherlands proposal that tobacco manufacturers should be
required to publish all their ingredients? Does the Commission support the proposal that cigarette packets
should indicate which ingredients are addictive?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Yes, the Commission is aware of the tobacco industry’s pursuit to invent new ingredients and additives for
tobacco products in order to make them more addictive.

The issue is dealt with in Directive 2001/37/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 5 June 2001 on the
approximation of
laws, regulations and administrative provisions of Member States concerning the
manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products (Tobacco Products Directive) (1). The provisions of
the Directive address the issues raised by the Honourable Member.

First, Article 12 of the Directive establishes that the Commission is invited to submit to the Parliament and
to the Council a proposal for a common list of ingredients authorised for tobacco products, taking into
account, inter alia, their addictiveness. This proposal is due by the end of 2004.

Second, according to Article 11, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council and
the Economic and Social Committee a report on the application of the Directive. The report should,
among other things, include an evaluation of the addictive effects of those ingredients which encourage
addiction. The first report is due by the end of 2004.

Third, according to Article 6, the Member States shall require manufactures and importers of tobacco
products to submit them a list of all ingredients, and quantities thereof, used in the manufacture of those
tobacco products by brand name and type. The Member States must ensure the dissemination of this
information with a view to informing consumers. In doing this, trade secrets must be protected.

Four, according to Article 5, cigarette packets must indicate the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields.
The issue of what kind of information on ingredients should be placed on cigarette packets is a very
controversial one taking into account, inter alia, the fact that there are more than 600 different ingredients
in a cigarette. The Commission intends to make careful analysis of the situation before submitting a
proposal providing for a common list of ingredients authorised for tobacco products.

Finally, the Commission would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that also
the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) includes provisions on the issue that are quite
similar to those of the Tobacco Products Directive.

(1) OJ L 194, 18.7.2001.