SPEECH/97/160
Speech by Mr. Padraig Flynn,
European Commissioner with responsibility for
Employment and Social Affairs
ANTI-SMOKING SUMMIT
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London, 14th July 1997
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be present today at this significant event which marks the
commitment of the United Kingdom Government to an active policy of smoking
prevention. I have repeatedly stressed the importance which I personally attach to
addressing this issue urgently and effectively. This has not always been a popular
position to take and I am glad to have such eminent company in promoting a more
effective effort to reduce the death toll from tobacco related diseases.
I firmly believe that it is incumbent on the public health authorities to make the
fight against tobacco a priority for action. As the biggest single preventable cause
of death, it offers the best target for preventative action. Moreover, I also believe
that any serious efforts to promote a fairer society must also target tobacco
consumption. The fact is that smokers are increasingly drawn from the poorer
sectors of society. This is reflected in the much lower life expectancy in these
sectors.
The support shown by Mr Dobson and Ms Jowell is particularly welcome as it
comes at a crucial time. The recent moves towards a more effective tobacco
control policy in the United States emphasises the need for a joint European
initiative. The industry has been organised on an international basis for many
years. It is now time for governments to act in a similarly concerted way. If not, we
will soon find that our citizens will be targeted by new marketing efforts in a bid to
recover lost markets in the US and elsewhere.
We are frequently told that tobacco would be banned on safety grounds if it were
presented for the first time today on the marketplace. However, our present
strategy on smoking prevention does not reflect this danger. Instead, we are told
of the economic importance of tobacco, of the revenue it yields, of the necessity
to respect freedom of choice. My reaction to such remarks is that the half-a-million
European citizens die from tobacco related diseases every year. Anybody who
takes their public health responsibilities seriously cannot ignore this figure.
When I prepared a Commission White Paper on smoking prevention last
December, I identified a series of policy options at the Community and Member
State level to reduce smoking prevalence. I would like here to point out some of
the more important initiatives required:
− Firstly, we need to reduce the incentives to smoke, particularly for young
people. This means that the promotion of tobacco, by direct or indirect
advertising, must be removed. There can be no continued justification for
pushing sales of such an addictive and deadly product. I welcome the
commitment shown by the UK Government to discuss the need for such a ban
at European level.
− Secondly, we need to bring our labelling rules up to date. These are now
outdated and need to be reinforced to provide full and accurate information
and warnings the general public.
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− Thirdly, I will explore the need for a reduction of the permissible tar and
nicotine content of cigarettes, although of course there will never be such a
thing as a “safe cigarette”. While many argue that smoking is a matter of
personal choice, I would add that the addictive properties of tobacco render
that choice a dependency. Moreover, the vast majority of smokers begin their
habit in adolescence when they are ill-equipped to make a rational choice.
− Fourthly, attention will need to be given to updating the protection of nonsmokers from the effects of passive smoking. I am committed, as are the
Ministers of Health of the Member States, to strengthening this protection. In
particular, I am anxious to protect children, expectant mothers and persons
who are exposed to tobacco smoke in their place of work. The recent initiatives
of the Roy Castle Foundation in the UK, on protection of children against
passive smoking, deserve our support.
− Fifthly, we need to step-up and professionialize our prevention and information
campaigns on the smoking issue. The Commission has proposed increasing
the funds available at European level for this purpose, but the main effort will
still have to come at national level. Smoking prevention campaigns will have to
become at least as effective as the efforts of the tobacco industry pushing
people to consume.
− Lastly, we need to urgently see what the consequences will be for Europeans
of the recent US initiatives. In turn, we can help alert developing countries to
our experience of the damage caused by tobacco.
The Member States can also adopt a series of measures at national level to
reduce smoking: particularly important here would be measures to outlaw sales to
minors, to restrict vending machine sales, to improve smoking cessation
programmes and to increase taxes on tobacco.
The United Kingdom already leads the way in many aspects of smoking
prevention policy. Very recently, for example, another significant hike was made in
the tax on cigarettes here. This was a courageous move given the strong
opposition to such an increase. Let me say however that there is a need for
parallel measures elsewhere in the Community if we are to avoid the problems
caused by a widening price gap. I will continue to encourage other Member States
to follow the UK example in raising the real price of cigarettes.
I must also pay tribute to the many organisations and groups who have been
active in bringing the dangers of smoking onto the public agenda. As with many
other health issues, the input of the voluntary sector is crucial, and over the years
these groups have helped to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking.
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I have been particularly struck for example, by the lead shown by the medical
profession in changing attitudes. Last November, the high-level Cancer Experts
Committee advising the Commission, drew-up a series of recommendations for
action on smoking reduction. I am happy to say that Commission’s White Paper
takes most of these ideas on board. We now have to ensure that they become a
reality.
I would now like to return briefly to the question of advertising. This is, for me, a
central plank in any effective strategy to reduce smoking. The Commission first
proposed a Community-wide Directive on this subject in 1989 and in a modified
proposal of 1992, we proposed a total ban on advertising except inside tobacco
shops. The level of resistance to this ban is shown by the fact that it still remains
unadopted today.
However, the support of Mrs Jowell and of the current Luxembourg Presidency
has relaunched discussion of this measure on a more positive footing. The need
for a European solution is clear from the increasing problems which individual
Member States are finding in applying restrictions at the national level. The
abolition of border controls within the Internal Market means that it becomes
almost impossible to police a national measure correctly. I could also point out
that a Community ban on television advertising of tobacco products already exists
and shows what can be achieved. What we are proposing now is to extend this
measure to other forms of media.
I would like to round off by thanking our UK friends for their excellent initiative of
organising this Conference and to pledge the support of the Commission in
moving forward effectively against smoking and for better health.
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