Nine European health organisations have accused the EU of losing its momentum in the fight against tobacco in a joint statement released on Tuesday.
The organisations welcomed recent actions from the European Commission, including the recommended extension of smoke-free environments. However, they noted that legislative action is falling behind the innovation and marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.
"There is simply no excuse for not taking more aggressive action against the tobacco industry. We have known for decades that tobacco kills, yet we are moving at a snail's pace to address this clear and present public health threat," stated the President of the European Cancer Organisation, Dr. Csaba L. Dégi. "The European Commission must say loud and clear: enough is enough."
In Belgium, over 9,000 people die annually due to smoking, according to data published this year by Belgian public health institute Sciensano. This amounts to almost one person every hour.
In a joint statement, the health groups urged the next EU Commission to address the uptake of novel products from the tobacco industry, particularly heated tobacco products, through excise taxes, bans on flavoured accessories and updated advertising directives.
Additionally, the groups called for a monitoring mechanism to measure Member States' fulfilment of EU recommendations and legislations, to achieve the EU goal of a 'Tobacco Free Generation by 2040', whereby only 5% of the population uses tobacco products.
A series of anti-tobacco and smoking regulations are due to come into force in Belgium in 2025, including restrictions on smoking areas and limited displays of tobacco products.
The call on the EU was made by the European Cancer Organisation, the European Lung Foundation, the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, the European Respiratory Society, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Society of Cardiology, Lung Cancer Europe, Lungs Europe, and the Smoke-Free Partnership.
