Statement by Commissioner Kyriakides to mark World No Tobacco Day

Statement by Commissioner Kyriakides to mark World No Tobacco Day

The theme of this year's World No Tobacco Day is protecting children from tobacco. This is key to our fight for a tobacco-free generation, as the average smoker starts in their late teens and many novel products on the market directly appeal to children and young people. Under Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, we have set the goal of creating a ‘Tobacco-free Generation' by 2040, where less than 5 per cent of the population uses tobacco. This goal will benefit us all, creating a smoke and nicotine-free world for our children and grandchildren.

The European Union has long engaged in efforts in the EU and globally to reduce tobacco consumption and fight nicotine addiction, including regulating tobacco- related products, restricting their advertising and sponsorship, and running anti-smoking campaigns.

Most recently, the EU banned the placing on the market of flavoured heated tobacco products and set stricter labelling requirements for heated tobacco products. We are continuing our work on further measures to restrict and control tobacco consumption in the EU, including a comprehensive evaluation of our legislative framework on tobacco control to prepare for a possible revision of the directive under the next European Commission's mandate. Our preparatory work to review the 2009 Council Recommendation on smoke and aerosol free environments is also well advanced.

Tobacco consumption is the largest avoidable health risk in the European Union, responsible for 700 000 deaths each year. It also massively increases the risk of developing cancer, and smokers are also more likely to suffer a range of illnesses because of their tobacco use, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Tobacco use, nicotine addiction and tobacco-induced illness should have no place in Europe's future.