Tonio Borg: we must strive to make tobacco products and smoking less attractive to young people

Tonio Borg – Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner 

Brussels, 30-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — “On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, I call on Members of the European Parliament and on Europe’s Health Ministers to support the Commission’s proposal on tobacco products. As 70% of smokers in the European Union start before the age of 18, we must strive to make tobacco products and smoking less attractive to young people. The time has come to put an end to cigarettes for teenagers.

The time has come to rule out increasingly flavoured and attractive tobacco products targeted at very young people. Tobacco products should not look like toys or cosmetics, or taste like vanilla or chocolate. Tobacco products should look and taste like tobacco products and Europe needs solid legislation to ensure this. I look forward to a fruitful discussion with Member States at the EPSCO Council on 21 June on how we can move forward together on this important piece of legislation that can make a major difference to people’s health in Europe”, Commissioner Borg said.

For more information:

MEMO/13/472

World No Tobacco Day video message

“This could be your daughter” clip