CELEX: 51987PC0720
Language: en
Date: 1988-01-28
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the maximum tar yield of cigarettes (presented by the Commission)

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                                                                COM ( 87 ) 720 fin .) I
                                                       Brussels , 1 february 1988
   j
                           PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
     on the approximation of the laws , régulations and administrative provisions
     of the Member States concerning the maximum tar yield of cigarettes
                             ( presented by the Commission )
■i
 ---pagebreak---                                           1
                     PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE
                          MAXIMUM TAR YIELD OF CIGARETTES
                               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
This proposai for a directive is to be seen in the context of the
achievement of the Large Market in 1992 .         Its aim is to ensure the free
circulation of cigarettes in the Community whilst taking account of health
considérations and , in particular , the guidelines approved by the Council
and the Ministers of Health meeting within the Council on 15 May 1986 ( OJ
C 1 84 of 23.07.1986 ).
I.    BACKGROUND
At    present ,   three Community countries already have regulations or
contractual agreements in this area . In Spain , Royal Decree No 709 of 1982
now prohibits the marketing of new cigarettes containing more than 24 mg of
tar . In Portugal , similar provisions apply , the maximum value being 28 mg .
It should be noted that in the United Kingdom ,       the voluntary agreement of
1 April 1986 prohibits the advertising of cigarettes with a tar yield of
more than 18 mg .
II .   BASES FOR COMMUNITY ACTION
The elimination by 1992 of all barriers to trade means that national
provisions on high-tar cigarettes must be harmonized . Article 100 AC3 ) of
the Single Act lays down that " the Commission , in its proposals laid down
in paragraph 1 concerning health , safety , environmental protection and
consumer protection , will take as a base a high level of protection ".
Accordingly , this proposal for a directive lays down the following maximum
values :     15 mg of tar by 31 December 1992 and 12 mg of tar by
31 December 1995 in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee of
Cancer Experts at       the European Commission .     Since the publication in
December 1986 of the programme " Europe against cancer ", a total period of
ten years has been given to the sector concerned for this change .           The
Commission nevertheless considered that the timetable for implementation
originally laid down ( OJ C50 of 26.02.1987 ) should be extended in order to
take account of the efforts which certain economies showing differences in
development will have to make during the period of establishment of the
internal market .
                                                                                 2
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 2 -
The aim of extending this timetable is to take account of difficulties
which SME producing high-tar varieties of tobacco might encounter . In this
respect , the European Community has already taken action to stimulate the
reconversion of those enterprises to the production of tobacco less harmful
to health or to other crops ( cotton , maize , fruit and vegetables , etc .) in
the framework of the agricultural policy or of the Integrated Mediterranean
Programmes .    As regards the demand for cigarettes , this ban on high-tar
cigarettes should not lead to any marked reduction in consumption but
rather a switch to low-tar brands . There should , then , be no significant
impact on those small and medium-sized undertakings distributing and
marketing manufactured tobacco .
III . COMMENTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES
Article 1
This Aticle sets out the objective of the proposed directive , harmonisation
within the context of the achievement of the internal market , of the laws ,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning
the maximum tar content of cigarettes on the basis of a high level of
public health protection .
The scope of this proposal is limited to cigarettes which are the only
tobacco product for which divergent national restrictions on tar yield
already exist .
Article 2
Paragraph 1 defines thè term " tar ". Paragraph 2 fixes thè maximum tar yield
in two successive stages . The values adopted are those recommended by thè
Committee of Cancer Experts at thè European Commission .
Article 3
Method ISO 4387 ( trapping on glass fibre discs ) mentioned is without doubt
the most common .    There are other methods which give equivalent results ,
such as ISO 8543 ( electrostatic trapping ).
Articles 4, 5 and 6
These Articles set out the procedure to be followed in the event of
significant progress being made after the adoption of this directive in
respect of both measuring methods and the maximum tar yield laid down in
Article 2(2 ),   in particular as a result of any new research findings in
this area .
 ---pagebreak---                                            - 3 -
                         PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
on the approximation of the laws , régulations and administrative provisions
of the Member States concerning the maximum tar yield of cigarettes
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
and in particular Article 100         thereof
                                                          1
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
In coopération with the European Parliament ^,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee^,
Whereas there are differences betwen the                    laws ,   regulations and
administrative provisions of the Member States on the limitation of the
maximum tar content of cigarettes ;          whereas such differences are liable to
constitute barriers to trade and to impede the establi shment and operation
of the internai market ;
Pereas those obstacles should accordingly be eliminated and 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  due   account   of  public   health
protection ;
Whereas the higher the tar content of smoked tobacco , the greater the risk
of lung cancer and whereas the European Council held in Milan on 28 and
29 June 1985 stressed the importance of launching a European action
programme against cancer ;
Whereas in their resolution of 7 July 1986 ,                   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 ;
Whereas this    Directive contains 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 the harmonization of the laws , regu ¬
  lations    and admini st rat i ve provisions cf the Member States concerning the
maximum tar yield of cigarettes , taking as a base a high level of health
protection .
1
2
3
40 j ho C 184, 23.7.1986, p.19
 ---pagebreak---                                            - 4 -
                                        Article 2
1.   For the purposes of this Directive , " tar " means the raw anhydrous
     ni cot i ne-f ree condensate of smoke .
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 measured under the authority of the
Member States by method ISO 4387 or any other method giving equivalent
results .
                                        Article 4
Adaptation to technical progress in accordance with the procedure provided
for in Article 6 shall be         limited to the tar yield values specified in
Article 2(2 ) and to the methods of measuring the tar yield referred to in
Article 3 .
                                        Article 5
With a view to the adaptation to technical progress referred to in
Article 4 , the Commission shall be assisted by a Committee of an Advisory nature
composed        of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the
representative of the Commission .
                                        Artide 6
The representatives of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the
measures to be taken . The Co mittee shall deliver its opinion on the draft ,
within a time limit which the chairman 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 .
 ---pagebreak---                                           5
                                      Article 7
The Member States may not prohibit or restrict the sale of products which
conform to     this       Directive .
                                      Article 8
1.  Member States      shall bring into force the laws ,       regulations or
    administrative    provisions necessary to comply with       this Directive
    within eighteen months of its notification . They shall forthwith inform
    the Commission thereof . However, a supplementary period of 2 years is hereby
     granted for the sale of existing products which do not comply with this
     Di rective .
2.   i'iember 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 Member States .
Done at Brussels                                   For the Counc i l