EC: 10 key changes for tobacco products sold in the EU

The European Commission (EC) has summed up 10 key changes for tobacco products sold in the EU. A number of changes concern packaging. Graphic health warnings will cover 65% of the front and the back of cigarette and roll-your-own tobacco packs. The tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide labelling will be replaced with an information message. Cigarette packs must have a cuboid shape. Slim packs and other irregular shaped packs will no longer be allowed. Packs containing less than 20 cigarettes are also banned. New measures intended to combat the illegal trade in tobacco products include a security feature composed of visible and invisible elements e.g. holograms (Press Release EC, 20 May 2016).
Click here for the press release.
Click here for an infographic about the changes, including a timeline (347 kB).
Click here for more information about the Tobacco Products Directive.

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