The EU Council has approved new recommendations on smoke- and aerosol-free environments across the bloc to strengthen protection against exposure to second-hand smoke and to “encourage current smokers to quit”, bucking Parliament’s recent shelving of the proposal.
EU health ministers endorsed European Commission recommendations on new tobacco and aerosol restrictions that propose bans in public places, bucking Parliament’s rejection of the same paper last week.
The proposal, aimed at addressing the risks posed by aerosols and tobacco, builds on rules in place since 2009, extending smoking bans to outdoor areas and also covering novel products such as vapes that do not contain nicotine.
“Every year, we lose as many as 700,000 lives to tobacco consumption. It is the largest avoidable health risk in the EU,” said Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi during his first Council meeting as health chief.
He added that there is no safe or acceptable level of exposure to second-hand smoke, citing the World Health Organization.
The recommendations form part of the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan, which aims to reduce tobacco use by 30% by 2025 and cut the share of smokers in the EU population to just 5%, with a view to achieving a “tobacco-free generation” by 2040.
The updated rules expand smoke-free spaces to include outdoor and semi-outdoor areas, such as rooftops, balconies, terraces, and spaces linked to service establishments like bars, restaurants, and cafes. Other areas covered include bus stops, airports, outdoor areas associated with workplaces, hospitals and care homes.
To protect children from both second-hand smoke and the risk of taking up smoking themselves, recreational areas such as public playgrounds, amusement parks, swimming pools, and zoos are also included. Educational premises, ranging from pre-school childcare facilities to universities, are covered as well.
While these guidelines are not legally binding, they provide a framework for member states to follow as part of broader efforts to curb tobacco-related cancers.
Belgian Health Minster Frank Vandenbroucke welcomed the recommendation but said “there is so much more to do”.
“We’re currently playing cat and mouse with the tobacco industry,” he added, urging the Commission to accelerate work on related legislation, such as the Tobacco Products Directive, the Tobacco Taxation Directive, and the review of the legal framework for cross-border tobacco purchases.
The Tobacco Taxation Directive has been delayed multiple times and is now scheduled for 2025, leading some to question whether the tobacco industry influenced these postponements.
Previously rejected by the Parliament
The European Parliament voted on a resolution following the Commission during the plenary session in Strasbourg in November and rejected the text by 378 votes against, with only 152 in favour, and 26 abstentions.
The non-binding text was presented by the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, and the Greens/EFA.
However, it ended up being rejected after the approval of amendments tabled by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) asking for differentiation in the regulation of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products from traditional tobacco.
