Safeguards for Smokers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th Jun 2000

Tough new rules to increase the impact of health warnings on cigarette packs yesterday (Wednesday) won the backing of European MPs.

The European Parliament voted for a series of measures, which include:

• Increasing the space on cigarette packs devoted to health warnings from the current total of just 4% to 35% on the front and 45% on the back of packs;

• A range of new specific health warnings;

• Removal of descriptions such as 'light', 'mild' and 'low tar' which are regarded as misleading;

• Requiring tobacco manufacturers to provide public details of all the 200 chemicals which may be used in their products.

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for Eastern England, said:

"Smokers should be free to continue their habit if they so choose, but governments must ensure that the health warnings are as explicit as possible so that no-one can pretend that they don't know the risks.

"This is a very good example of the European Parliament working in the interests of the citizens of Europe.

"With this directive the EU is taking a lead in the fight against the tobacco epidemic in the World Health Organisation."

The European Parliament voted at First Reading of the draft Directive. The proposals will now be considered by the Council of Ministers from each EU country, before returning to Parliament for Second Reading in the autumn.