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The Head of the Secretariat of the Framework convention on Tobacco control Haik Nikogosian congratulated Lithuania on the successful conclusion of Tobacco products directive negotiations, which was one of the goals during Lithuanian presidency of the council of the EU.

Each year around 700 000 people die because of tobacco and medical costs of treating tobacco -induced illnesses are 25,3 milliard euros annually. These facts encouraged EU to review the Agreement on Tobacco Directive. Countries decided to make changes in this agreement in order to reduce the youth smoking, illness related to tobacco, contraband and improve the advertising and marketing regulations for tobacco products. In addition it is significant to all stakeholders of the EU internal market, as it establishes clearer rules for manufacturers, retailers and consumers.

The purpose of this Directive is to approximate the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the ingredients and emissions of tobacco products and related reporting obligations including the maximum yields for tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide for cigarettes; certain aspects of the labelling and packaging of tobacco products including the health warnings to appear on unit packets of tobacco products and any outside packaging as well as traceability and security features to ensure compliance with this Directive; the prohibition to place on the market tobacco for oral use; and the notification obligation for novel tobacco products. 

Some core elements of the agreement include: prohibition of placing on the market of tobacco products with a characterizing flavors; transitory period of 4 years for mentholated tobacco products, which will be banned of summer 2020; the combined health warnings shall cover 65 % of the external area of both the front and back surface of the unit packet and any outside packaging; tobacco for oral use (“Snus”) remains banned in the EU, except for Sweden, where it can be marketed in accordance with Article 151 of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, e-cigarettes included into the scope of the Directive; Member States which regulate the e-cigarettes as pharma products will be able continue; maximum permitted nicotine concentration level of 20 mg/ml, use of refillable cartridges for e-cigarettes allowed and the maximum size of the single use cartridges of 2 ml;