March 10th, 2015:
‘Constant meddling’ of tobacco lobbies preventing effective anti-smoking legislation
https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/opinion/constant-meddling-tobacco-lobbies-preventing-effective-anti-smoking-legislation
Gilles Pargneaux outlines why the EU must act urgently to counter the growing influence of tobacco manufacturers.
Tobacco is the only legal consumer product that kills its users when they follow the manufacturer’s exact instructions.
Currently, smoking kills nearly six million people a year, including 700,000 in Europe – this is the equivalent of the population of a city the size of Frankfurt. By 2030, this number could rise to eight million.
In order to reverse this worrying trend, strong action must be taken.
We already know what measures best serve the fight against smoking. What gets in the way of effectively implementing them is the tobacco industry’s constant meddling in our policymaking.
This meddling is continuous and premeditated. It occurs on all levels of tobacco manufacturing – from its cultivation, to its transformation, all the way to its marketing.
“Currently, smoking kills nearly six million people a year, including 700,000 in Europe – this is the equivalent of the population of a city the size of Frankfurt. By 2030, this number could rise to eight million”
This is why I have decided to create a working group against tobacco manufacturers’ interference in decision making. Joining me in this endeavour are Paris councillor Pauline Delpech (Greens), Françoise Grossetête (EPP, FR), Robert Rochert (ALDE, FR), Frédérique Ries (ALDE, BE), José Bové (Greens/EFA, FR), Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, BE), Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, FR), Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL, FR), Eleonora Evi (EFDD, IT) and Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD, IT).
This group will bring together MEPs from all parties and all nationalities, as well as representatives from anti-smoking organisations. Over 40 deputies have already indicated that they would like to join the working group.
Our logic is simple, but radically different from what has been done in the past. We will strive to set up new anti-smoking policies that take aim at manufacturers.
During the revision process of tobacco products directive, we witnessed cigarette producers prospering through the use of a wide array of tactics and strategies to defy anti-smoking policies.
200 lobbyists were recruited by the three main tobacco producers – Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco – with a budget of €5m at their disposal to kill the tobacco products directive.
The forced resignation of European health and consumer policy commissioner John Dalli and classification of MEPs according to their stance on tobacco products by Philip Morris are sad illustrations of this.
Fortunately, there is a solution to counter this global threat – the world health organisation’s framework convention on tobacco control. In total, 179 countries, in addition to the EU, have decided to adopt this international convention to contain the smoking epidemic and its slew of illnesses.
These countries have signalled their commitment to fighting against tobacco lobbies’ influence, as stated by the convention, “by defining and applying their public health policies related to anti-smoking measures, the signatories will ensure that these policies are not influenced by the commercial interests of the tobacco industry, in line with national laws”.
Our working group’s main goal will be to ensure this article is respected within the European and national institutions.
In this context, we will oversee the ambitious implementation of the tobacco products directive in all member states and will do everything we can to prevent the renewal of dubious cooperation agreements between the EU and tobacco manufacturers in the fight against the illegal sale of cigarettes.
About the author
Gilles Pargneaux (S&D, FR) is a vice-chair of parliament’s environment, public health and food safety committee
‘Constant meddling’ of tobacco lobbies preventing effective anti-smoking legislation
https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/opinion/constant-meddling-tobacco-lobbies-preventing-effective-anti-smoking-legislation
Tobacco is the only legal consumer product that kills its users when they follow the manufacturer’s exact instructions.
Currently, smoking kills nearly six million people a year, including 700,000 in Europe – this is the equivalent of the population of a city the size of Frankfurt. By 2030, this number could rise to eight million. In order to reverse this worrying trend, strong action must be taken. We already know what measures best serve the fight against smoking. What gets in the way of effectively implementing them is the tobacco industry’s constant meddling in our policymaking. This meddling is continuous and premeditated. It occurs on all levels of tobacco manufacturing – from its cultivation, to its transformation, all the way to its marketing. “Currently, smoking kills nearly six million people a year, including 700,000 in Europe – this is the equivalent of the population of a city the size of Frankfurt. By 2030, this number could rise to eight million”
This is why I have decided to create a working group against tobacco manufacturers’ interference in decision making. Joining me in this endeavour are Paris councillor Pauline Delpech (Greens), Françoise Grossetête (EPP, FR), Robert Rochert (ALDE, FR), Frédérique Ries (ALDE, BE), José Bové (Greens/EFA, FR), Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, BE), Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, FR), Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL, FR), Eleonora Evi (EFDD, IT) and Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD, IT).
This group will bring together MEPs from all parties and all nationalities, as well as representatives from anti-smoking organisations. Over 40 deputies have already indicated that they would like to join the working group. Our logic is simple, but radically different from what has been done in the past. We will strive to set up new anti-smoking policies that take aim at manufacturers. During the revision process of tobacco products directive, we witnessed cigarette producers prospering through the use of a wide array of tactics and strategies to defy anti-smoking policies. 200 lobbyists were recruited by the three main tobacco producers – Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco – with a budget of €5m at their disposal to kill the tobacco products directive.
The forced resignation of European health and consumer policy commissioner John Dalli and classification of MEPs according to their stance on tobacco products by Philip Morris are sad illustrations of this. Fortunately, there is a solution to counter this global threat – the world health organisation’s framework convention on tobacco control. In total, 179 countries, in addition to the EU, have decided to adopt this international convention to contain the smoking epidemic and its slew of illnesses.
These countries have signalled their commitment to fighting against tobacco lobbies’ influence, as stated by the convention, “by defining and applying their public health policies related to anti-smoking measures, the signatories will ensure that these policies are not influences by the commercial interests of the tobacco industry, in line with national laws”.
Our working group’s main goal will be to ensure this article is respected within the European and national institutions.
In this context, we will oversee the ambitious implementation of the tobacco products directive in all member states and will do everything we can to prevent the renewal of dubious cooperation agreements between the EU and tobacco manufacturers in the fight against the illegal sale of cigarettes.
About the author
Gilles Pargneaux (S&D, FR) is a vice-chair of parliament’s environment, public health and food safety committee.
American Lung Association Statement on E-Cigarettes
http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/tobacco-control-advocacy/federal/e-cigarettes.html
The American Lung Association is concerned about the potential health consequences of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), as well as the unproven claims that they can be used to help smokers quit. Presently there is no government oversight of these products. Absent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, there is no way for the public health and medical community or consumers to know what chemicals are contained in e-cigarettes (also known as electronic nicotine delivery systems or ENDS) or what the short- and long-term health implications might be.
Early studies show that e-cigarettes contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, including carcinogens. The Surgeon General has found that nicotine has negative health impacts on fetal development and adolescent brain development. Nicotine is believed to contribute to increased incidence of premature birth, and low birth weight. Research has also shown a negative impact on pulmonary function in newborns, an issue of paramount concern to the Lung Association.
A 2014 study showed wide ranging nicotine levels in e-cigarettes and substantial variability between listed and actual nicotine levels in these products. In 2009, the FDA conducted lab tests and found detectable levels of toxic cancer-causing chemicals, including an ingredient used in antifreeze, in two leading brands of e-cigarettes and 18 various cartridges. A 2014 study found that e-cigarettes with a higher voltage level have higher amounts of formaldehyde, a carcinogen. It is urgent for FDA to begin its regulatory oversight of e-cigarettes, which would require ingredient disclosure to FDA, warning labels and youth access restrictions.
Also unknown is what the potential harm may be to people exposed to secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes. Two initial studies have found formaldehyde, benzene and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (all carcinogens) coming from those secondhand emissions. Other studies have shown that chemicals exhaled by users also contain formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other potential irritants. While there is a great deal more to learn about these products, it is clear that there is much to be concerned about, especially in the absence of FDA oversight.
The American Lung Association is concerned about e-cigarettes becoming a gateway to regular cigarettes, especially in light of the aggressive industry marketing tactics targeted at youth—including the use of candy flavors and the glamorization of e-cigarette use. Studies are showing a dramatic increase in usage of e-cigarettes, especially among youth. For the first time ever, a national study released in December 2014 found e-cigarette use among teens exceeds traditional cigarette smoking. The study also found that e-cigarette use among 8th and 10th graders was double that of traditional cigarette smoking. CDC studies have also shown e-cigarette use among high school students increased by 61 percent from 2012 to 2013.
The American Lung Association is troubled about unproven claims that e-cigarettes can be used to help smokers quit. The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has not approved any e-cigarette as a safe and effective method to help smokers quit. When smokers are ready to quit, they should call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or talk with their doctors about using one of the seven FDA-approved medications proven to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit.
In extensive comments filed with the FDA in August 2014, the American Lung Association called on the Obama Administration to finalize this regulation so that all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, can be subject to basic FDA oversight.