European Parliament approves draft legislation to make tobacco products less attractive, including picture warnings

Draft legislation updating the EU Tobacco Directive to make tobacco products less attractive to young people has been endorsed by MEPs. This legislation, already informally agreed with EU health ministers, would require all packs to carry picture warnings covering 65% of their surface.
Current legislation requires that health warnings cover at least 30% of the area of the front of the pack and 40% of the back. The proposed text would increase this to 65%, front and back, and would require these warnings to be in picture form. Packs of fewer than 20 cigarettes - which are cheaper and hence more accessible to children - would be banned (Press Release European Parliament, 26 February 2014).
Click here for the press release.
The revised directive was officially adopted by the Council on 14 March 2014.
Click here for more information.

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