Smoke free partnership

Briefing on the Revision of the 2001 Tobacco Products Directive

Sam — 2010-09-01T11:07:11Z

The 2001 Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was the first piece of major EU legislation regulating tobacco products. In the light of its revision, the Smoke Free Partnership is setting out what it wants to see in a new TPD; namely, compulsory graphic warnings and standardised packaging on all cigarette packs. - SFP Reports

2009 SFP Annual Report

Sam — 2010-04-20T15:35:01Z

Please see below to read about SFP activities in 2009: - SFP Annual Reports

Czech Republic

Isabell — 2009-03-31T13:09:33Z

Development of the law:

In the Czech Republic it is forbidden to smoke (as of January 2006):
in public places (e.g. in closed spaces accessible to the public, public transport, shelters and waiting rooms, etc.)
in schools
in closed entertainment facilities (i.e. theatres, galleries, concert halls, sport halls, etc.)
inside medical facilities
in buildings of public administration
in restaurants; owners have to provide a "space" reserved for smokers marked with a "visible sign".

Smokers who do not observe these rules can be fined up to CZK 1,000. In January 2006, people paid more than CZK 100,000 in fines in Prague alone.

The current legislation does not protect workers and the general public from passive smoking. As a result, an amendment to the current legislation was tabled by ODS deputy Boris Šťastný in order to introduce a total smoking ban.

On Wednesday 11th June 2009, Czech MPs backed a proposal allowing bars and restaurants owners to decide whether their establishments are smoking or not. From the middle of 2010, all that will be required from owners is to put a notice on the door saying where they stand.

The proposal represents a weakening of the current law which bans smoking in restaurants unless it is clearly stated that space has been set aside for smokers. MPs had another proposal before them which would have forced restaurants to separate smoking and non-smoking facilities. But Czech MPs gave in to the tobacco lobby.

The Czech Republic is the only EU country which has not yet ratified the FCTC.

Useful links:

Tobacco legislation in Czech Republic

Poland

Isabell — 2009-03-24T10:26:40Z

Development of the law:

According to a study by L Joossens and M Rawon the progress in tobacco control in 30 European countries, Poland was one of the first countries in Europe to adopt smokefree legislation in public places in the 1990s but has lagged behind since then.

The law on the protection of the public against the effects of tobacco use of 1995 was amended in 1999 and provides a smoking ban in rooms in work establishments and public places, except for separate smoking rooms.

Smoking is also prohibited in public transport on the base of internal regulations and organisational arrangements.

In hospitality venues that have more than one room, smoking is allowed in separate rooms. In one-room establishments, smoking is allowed in designated areas.

It is our understanding that there is a problem of enforcement of the law, particularly in the hospitality sector.

In March 2008, a parliamentary initiative for a comprehensive ban on smoking in all enclosed workplaces and public places, including the hospitality sector, was tabled in the parliamentary health committee. It would need three readings in the lower chamber and one reading in the upper chamber to become law.

Useful links:

English translation of the law

Polish Ministry of Health

L Joossens and M Raw, The tobacco control scale: a new scale to measure country activity

Contact:

Professor Witold Zatonski MD PhD, Director, Division of Cancer, Epidemiology and Prevention Department, The Maria Sklodowska-Curie Cancer Centre and Institute, 5 Roentgena Street, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland. E-mail: canepid@coi.waw.pl

2008 SFP Annual Report

margarida — 2009-03-23T15:04:59Z

Highlights of the year:

Launch of the Spotlight on the FCTC briefings. The aim of the Spotlight briefings is to provide an overview of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) obligations and what these mean to Parties to the Treaty, as well as to inform discussions on key issues such as smoke free policies or taxation. Four briefings were produced and widely distributed to key policy-makers at European and national level, as well as to other relevant stakeholders and the media.

On January 30, a cocktail reception took place in the European Parliament, Brussels for the launch of the first "Spotlight on the FCTC” briefing. The event was hosted by Linda McAvan MEP and was also be attended by many key MEPS, Commission officials and national attaches.

On July 15, the Smokefree Partnership organised a seminar in the European Parliament (Brussels) on the role of article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC in protecting public policy from tobacco industry influence. The event was hosted by Avril Doyle MEP and Commissioner Vassiliou was one of the many speakers present during the event. The seminar brought together more than 70 participants including Members of the European Parliament, senior officials from the European Commission, Member State representatives, the WHO as well as public health and tobacco experts.

On 3rd and 4th September, a two-day seminar took place in Leuven to discuss taxation and illicit trade of tobacco products. The overall aim was to present the new proposal of the EC, to provide participants with information on smuggling and illicit trade and to ensure that health considerations are properly taken into consideration during the negotiations.

The SFP also continued and strengthened its work on the FCTC. Throughout the year, the SFP Informed key EU policy makers about the need for strong guidelines on Article 5.3 (protection of public health policy with respect to tobacco control from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry), Article 11 (packaging and labelling) and Article 13 (advertising, promotion and sponsorship);

The SFP revamped its website in order to provide reliable comparative and easy to use data to EU policy makers. New sections include facts and figures on mortality and cost of smoking related diseases to governments. The interactive map on current smokefree legislation is now available and proving extremely popular.

Please click on the document below to read more about the SFP activities in 2008.

2007 SFP Annual Report

margarida — 2009-03-23T14:55:40Z

2007 was a momentous year for the SFP as the SFP moved closer to one of its core goals - to ensure legal protection from secondhand smoke across Europe. The SFP worked hard in collaboration with the “Global Smokefree Partnership” to ensure European support for the draft Article 8 Guidelines of the FCTC which were adopted with unanimous support from all Parties. The SFP also responded to requests received from several Member States for assistance in adopting smokefree laws in their country.

The SFP led the work of the EU RIP (Reduced Ignition Propensity) Alliance to ensure the success of the campaign for “fire-safer” cigarettes.

Internationally, The SFP worked on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) issues and in particular, investigation of EU funding streams for tobacco control in developing countries and supporting work on FCTC monitoring being carried out by the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA).

Another milestone for the SFP in 2007 was the launch of the website www.smokefreepartnership.eu.

The findings and key messages of the “Lifting Smokescreen” report, which have been translated into most EU languages and are available on the SFP website, continue to be widely used by public health experts, policy makers and politicians across Europe to support smokefree policies. The figure of at least 79,000 EU deaths from passive smoking is now routinely quoted in any EU-level debate on passive smoking.

Please click on the document below to read more about the SFP activities in 2007.

Factsheet on tobacco and the Global Health agenda

margarida — 2009-02-25T12:47:47Z
- SFP Factsheets

Factsheet on tobacco and the Millennium Development Goals

margarida — 2009-02-25T12:27:19Z
- SFP Factsheets

Estonia

Isabell — 2009-02-19T10:39:54Z
Currently under review - Smoke-Free Legislation

Portugal

Isabell — 2009-02-19T10:38:57Z
Currently under review - Smoke-Free Legislation