Plain packaging of tobacco products in the European Union: an EU success story?

In March 2017, the European Union (EU) celebrated its 60th anniversary. The frenzied focus in recent times has been on crises, from economics to migration, terrorism and the UK leaving the EU. However, in contrast to the increase in Euroscepticism are the EU's successes, which should and must be celebrated. One of the major victories from a public health perspective is the harmonisation of tobacco control policy across the 28 EU member states (MSs) through the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and the Tobacco Tax Directive, which, through the regulation of tobacco products, protect the health of the 511 million EU citizens.

Source: European Respiratory Journal - November 22, 2017 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Vardavas, C., Filippidis, F. T., Ward, B., Faure, M., Jimenez-Ruiz, C., Gratziou, C., Katsaounou, P., on behalf of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Tobacco Control Committee, Lozano, F., Behrakis, P., Radu-Loghin, C., on behalf of the European Netwo Tags: COPD and smoking Original Articles: European lung corner Source Type: research