Brussels, December 3rd, 2024
Today, the EPSCO Council adopted the Smoke and Aerosols Free Environments Recommendation.
Tobacco Europe regrets the Council’s decision to include emerging products within the scope of this Recommendation. This inclusion, in our view, lacks a solid scientific foundation and fails to account for the specificities of these products.
Moreover, we find the extension of restrictions to open and semi-open spaces, such as hospitality terraces, to be disproportionate and unsupported by evidence of public harm.
It is important to remember that this Recommendation remains non-binding for Member States, allowing each to determine the measures best suited to their national contexts.
We encourage policymakers to continue engaging in a balanced dialogue and to base their decisions on thorough scientific analysis and proportionality.
