Tobacco Facts has written several times about the need to update tobacco legislation in the EU. This is related to everything that is happening on the market. The current legislation is not up to date with the new nicotine products and all the marketing that is happening digitally.
The stated goal is to strengthen the protection of public health and adapt European regulations to new forms of nicotine consumption.
According to available data, almost 2,000 companies, around 350 industry associations, 250 academic institutions and 60 trade unions from 18 countries have submitted their views. This level of participation is well above the average for European consultations. It has given rise to a debate about the influence of different stakeholders in the European decision-making process, writes EU-news.
The Smoke Free Partnership, which advocates for tougher tobacco control measures, says an “unprecedented mobilization by the tobacco and nicotine industries has been launched to influence decision-making.” The organization claims that prescriptive and AI-generated contributions based on misleading narratives about “freedom of choice” have been encouraged. Contre Feu, a European civil society network advocating for tougher tobacco control measures, has expressed a similar view.
At the same time, there are views that the procedure would not lead to the available scientific evidence coming to light.
Other concerns have also been expressed by EFFAT (European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions) and by Copa-Cogeca, which represents European farmers and agricultural cooperatives. Both organisations consider a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive to be premature, citing shortcomings in the Commission's impact assessment and the difficulties that the geopolitical situation is already causing for European agricultural supply chains.
The conclusion of the consultation is just one step in the legislative process. The Commission's public consultation will run until 14 August 2026. The views received will be incorporated into the impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal. A proposal is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 this year.
Source: The tobacco review sparks action across the EU: over 80,000 responses
Tobacco Facts' statement: https://tobaksfakta.se/input-on-tpd-and-tad-to-the-european-commission/
