The European Heart Network (EHN), as a member of the European Chronic Disease Alliance (ECDA) and Smoke Free Partnership (SFP), joins public health organisations across Europe in urging the European Commission to deliver an ambitious revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD).
In an open letter addressed to Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, the organisations express their strong support for a recent initiative by EU Member States calling for stronger, future-proof tobacco and nicotine legislation.
The need for action is particularly urgent among children and young people. Around 4 million adolescents aged 13–15 in the WHO European Region use tobacco, while 14.3% use e-cigarettes, the highest prevalence of adolescent e-cigarette use of any WHO region.
The organisations call on the European Commission to close regulatory loopholes, reduce the attractiveness of tobacco and nicotine products, strengthen restrictions on advertising and promotion, and protect public health policymaking from tobacco industry interference, in line with Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
With the EU committed to achieving a smoke-free generation by 2040, ECDA, SFP and their partners urge the Commission to translate Member States’ ambition into a comprehensive legislative framework that protects current and future generations from tobacco-related disease and nicotine dependence.
Read the full open letter and press release below: