Retailers believe EU menthol cigarette ban will drive black market
New EU rules banning menthol cigarettes expected to come into force in three to four years
Print24 June 2013
EU health ministers in Luxembourg have agreed to ban menthol cigarettes and impose new rules on packaging.
The decision was reached at a key meeting of health ministers on Friday afternoon chaired by the Irish presidency of the European Council.
Speaking to ShelfLife, National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) Ireland president, Joe Sweeney, told ShelfLife: "Menthol cigarettes have become quite a large percentage of sales in recent years. Banning them from sale in shops will not mean that they’re unavailable. [This is] just going to drive that business into the black market and the products will always be available."
Sweeney, who said that menthol cigarettes account for approximately 10% of his tobacco sales, added that he believed illicit manufacturers and traders will be "delighted" by the decision because they will "see an opportunity there. They will always produce these products and bring them to the market."
While ministers in Luxembourg agreed to a menthol ban, they stopped short of banning "slim" cigarettes, following opposition from several member states. However slim cigarette products will be obliged to conform with the new packaging standards.
Minister for Health James Reilly said the move would help people to make "knowledgeable, informed choices" about tobacco purchases. He added that member state agreement on the directive had been a major achievement of the Irish presidency of the European Council.
"Each year 700,000 people across the EU die from tobacco-related illnesses, so many thousands more suffer from chronic illnesses brought on by tobacco consumption," he said. "Smoking is one of the greatest preventable, avoidable threats to people’s health."
Now that a "general approach" among member states has been agreed for the new directive, it will be the responsibility of the Lithuanian presidency of the EU Council to secure agreement with the European Parliament.
The new rules are expected to come into force in approximately three to four years, with EU health Commissioner Tony Borg stating that it is "still possible" to approve the directive within the current mandate of the European Parliament.
The commissioner said he had prioritised the file when he became health commissioner late last year to achieve its swift implementation. Borg added that the European Commission aims to reduce the number of smokers by 2% over the next five years.
The Council’s proposals will see 65% of packaging contain a health warning, compared to 75% in the initial proposal by the European Commission, yet members will be allowed to introduce complete plain packaging if they want to – with Ireland becoming the first EU country to declare it will do so.
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