CELEX: 51989PC0398R(01)
Language: en
Date: 1989-09-15
Title: AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE CONCERNING THE MAXIMUM TAR YIELD OF CIGARETTES (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (89) 398
Vol. 1989/0131
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 concernant
l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique européenne et de
la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, p. 1) modifié en dernier
lieu par le règlement (UE) 2015/496 du Conseil du 17 mars 2015 (JO L79 du 25. 3.2015, p. 1), ce
dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents classifiés présents dans ce dossier
ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit règlement ou sont considérés déclassifiés
conformément aux articles 26(3) et 59(2) de la décision (UE, Euratom) 2015/444 de la
Commission du 13 mars 2015 concernant les règles de sécurité aux fins de la protection des
informations classifiées de l'Union européenne.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning
the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the
European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as last amended by Council
Regulation (EU) 2015/496 of 17 March 2015 (OJ L 79, 27.3.2015, p. 1), this file is open to the
public. Where necessary, classified documents in this file have been declassified in conformity
with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation or are considered declassified in conformity with
Articles (26.3) and 59(2) of the Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015
on the security rules for protecting EU classified information.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar
1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und
der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S. 1), zuletzt geändert durch die
Verordnung (EU) Nr. 2015/496 vom 17. März 2015 (ABI. L 79 vom 25.3.2015, S. 1), ist dieser Akt
der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in diesem Akt in
Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 der genannten Verordnung freigegeben; beziehungsweise werden
sie auf Grundlage von Artikel 26(3) und 59(2) der Entscheidung der Kommission (EU, Euratom)
2015/444    vom   13.   März 2015     über die   Sicherheitsvorschriften für den Schutz von  EU-
Verschlusssachen als herabgestuft angesehen.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                     COM ( 89) 398 final /2 "SYN117
REVISED VERSION
                                                     Brussels , 15 September 1989
THIS DOCUMENT CANCELS
AND REPLACES DOCUMENT
 C0M(89)398 FINAL-SYN 117
  CONERNS    D. , En .
                 AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
            CONCERNING THE MAXIMUM TAR YIELD OF CIGARETTES
          ( presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 ( 3 )
                              of the EEC Treaty )
 ---pagebreak---                                            2
                     AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
                 CONCERNING THE MAXIMUM TAR YIELD OF CIGARETTES
                                    COM ( 89 ) ...
                               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
On 4 February 1988 , the Commission transmitted to the Council its initial
proposal for a directive on the maximum tar yield of cigarettes ( 1 ).
The. Economic and Social Committee adopted its opinion       n this proposai on
July 7th 1988 ( 2 ).
The European Parliament , consulted .in the framework       of the  cooperation
procedure , adopted its opinion on May 25th 1989 .
This amended proposal for a directive takes these opinions into account .
Also , as a result of the discussions since the submission of the initial
proposal , improvements have been made in the wording and on technical
questions .
                              EXAMINATION OF RECITALS
In accordance with amendment nr 3 , voted by the European Parliament , a new
recital was introduced .     It concerns the possibility to set up a timetable
for application allowing to carry out reconversion operations towards less
harmful tobacco varieties as well as a progressive adaptation of consumers
and manufacturers to tobacco products with a reduced tar yield .
                       COMMENTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES
Article 1
Unchanged .
Article 2
The Commission considers that this directive simply joins the current market
trend characterized by an increasing supply and demand of low tar
cigarettes . In most Member States , the 15 mg limit is already reached or on
the way to be reached . The use of more effective filters and better papers
will essentially allow to reach this objective before the end of 1992 .
Therefore , the Commission does not considerate appropriate to modify the
initial timetable for the implementation of this directive . This timetable
allows for the essential of the actions which are necessary for the
readaptation or reconversion of the tobacco growing sector to be carried
out , even if it implies intensification of the efforts already deployed in
some regions of Southern Europe .
( 1 ) OJ C48 of 20.02.1988 , p. 10
( 2 ) OJ C237 of 12.09.1988 , p. 49
 ---pagebreak---                                       3
Article 3
In order to take into account the amendment nr 6 voted by the European
Parliament , this measure was completed by a reference to standard ISO 8243
on the verification of tar yield measures .
Artide 4
In accordance with amendment nr 8 of the European Parliament as well as with
the wish expressed by the Council , the mandate of the committee for the
adaptation to technical progress will be restricted to the question of
measuring methods .
Article 5
Unchanged .
Article 6
Unchanged .
Article 7
An improvement in the wording was made , which gives more precision to this
provision which aims at assuring the free circulation of products which are
in accordance with the present directive .
Article 8
Unchanged .
Article 9
Unchanged .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 4 -
                      AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
                   CONCERNING THE MAXIMUM TAR YIELD OF CIGARETTES
                                     COM ( 89 )
            Original text                           Modified proposai
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN
COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty                         Unchanged
establishing the European Economic
Community , and in particular
Article 100 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from
the Commission ( 1 ) ,
In cooperation with the European
Parliament ( 2 ) ,
Having regard to the opinion of the
Economic and Social Committee ( 3 ),
Whereas there are differences                       Unchanged
between the laws , regulations and
administrative provisions of the
Member States on the limitation of
the maximum tar content of ciga­
rettes ; whereas such differences are
liable to constitute barriers to
trade and to impede the establish­
ment and operation of the internal
market ;
Whereas those obstacles should                      Unchanged
accordingly be eliminated ;
whereas to that end the marketing
and free movement of cigarettes must
be made subject to uniform rules
concerning maximum tar content ;
Whereas such common rules must take                 Unchanged
due account of public health
protection ;
Whereas the higher the tar content                  Unchanged
of smoked tobacco , the greater the
risk of lung cancer ; whereas the
European Council held in Milan on
28 an 29 June 1985 stressed the
importance of launching a European
action programme against cancer ;
Whereas in their resolution of                      Unchanged
7 July 1986 ( 4 ), the Council and the
Representatives of the Governments
of the Member States meeting within
the Council considered that measures
to combat smoking were a priority ;
(D
(2)
( 3 ) OJ C237 of 12.09.1988 , p.  49
( 4 ) OJ C184 Of 23.07.1986 , p.  19
 ---pagebreak---                                       5
                                      Whereas in applying this directive
                                      provision should be made for
                                      establishing deadlines which allow , on
                                      the one hand , completion to a minimum
                                      dearee of efficiencv of the process of
                                      conversion to other varieties which has
                                      already begun , and , on the other ,
                                      consumers and manufacturers to adapt to
                                      products with a lower tar yield ;
Whereas this Directive contains                  Deleted
minimum provisions which will be
 reviewed on the basis of experience
gained , the development of
techniques and medical knowledge in
this area , the objective being to
achieve greater protection of
 individuals ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
                   Article 1
The objective of this Directive is               Unchanged
the harmonization of the laws ,
régulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States
concerning the maximum tar yield of
cigarettes , taking as a base a high
level of health protection .
                   Article 2
1 . For the purposes of this Direc­
     tive , " tar " means the raw
     anhydrous nicotine-free conden­
     sate of smoke .
                                                 Unchanged
2 . The tar yield of cigarettes
     marketed in the Member States
     shall not be greater than 15 mg
     on 31 December 1992 and 12 mg on
     31 December     1995 .
                   Article 3
The tar yield of cigarettes shall be The tar yield of cigarettes shall be
measured under the authority of the measured under the authority of the
I 'ember States by method ISO 4387 or Member States by method ISO 4387 and
any other method giving equivalent    method ISO 3400 .   The verification must
results .                             be carried out with method ISO 8243 .
                   Article 4
Adaptation of technical progress in Adaptation to technical progress in
accordance with the procedure provi­ accordance with the procedure provided
ded for in Article 6 shall be         for in Article 6 shall D3 limited to
limited to the tar yield values       the method of m ean u rine: th e tar yiel d
specified in Article 2 ( 2 ) and to   referred to in Article 3 .
the methods of measuring the tar
yield referred to in Article 3 .
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 6 -
                 Article 5
With a view to the adaptation to                      Unchanged
technical progress referred to in
Article 4 , the Commission shall be
assisted by a committee of an
advisory nature composed of repre­
sentatives of the Member States and
chaired by the representative of
the Commission .
                 Article 6
The representatives of the                            Unchanged
Commission shall submit to the
committee a draft of the measures
to be taken .    The committee shall
deliver its opinion on the draft ,
within a time limit which the chair-
raan may lay down according to the
urgency of the matter , if necessary
by taking a vote .
The opinion shall be recorded in
the minutes ; in addition , each
Member State shall have the right
to ask to have its position recorded
in the minutes .
The Commission shall take the utmost
account of the opinion delivered by
the Committee .    It shall inform the
committee of the manner in which its
opinion has been taken into account .
                 Article 7
The Member States may not prohibit        Member States may not , for considera-
or restrict the sale of products          tions of the limitation of tar yield of
which conform to this Directive .         cigarettes . prohibit or restrict the
                                          sale of products which conform to
                                          this Directive .
                 Article 8
1 . Member States shall bring into                    Unchanged
    force the laws , régulations or
    administrative provisions neces­
    sary to comply with this
    Directive within 18 months
    of its notification . They shall
    forthwith inform the Commission
    thereof .   However , a supplement­
    ary period of two years is hereby
    granted for the sale of existing
    products which do not comply
    with this Directive .
2 . Member States shall communicate
    to the Commission provisions of
    national law which they adopt in
    the field governed by this
    Directive .
                 Article 9
This Directive is addressed to the                    Unchanged
Member States .