Tobacco Advertising Directive - poor but could have been much worse

12.00.00am GMT Wed 20th Nov 2002

A West Midlands Euro-MP and anti-tobacco advertising campaigner has branded the new EU Tobacco Advertising Directive as a missed opportunity, but is relieved that the European Parliament voted against making it worse still.

An amendment explicitly stating that EU countries will be free to adopt more stringent tobacco advertising bans than the EU-wide legislation was passed. Furthermore, the amendments tabled by the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, that would have watered down the rules still further, were voted down.

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne said:

"I am disappointed that this directive falls so far short of the original 2000 directive that was ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice. However, the amendment passed today does at least explicitly allow national governments to go further."

"From a UK perspective, the directive with the crucial amendment is now meaningless as our own parliament passed much more stringent legislation last month. The prospect of tobacco companies dragging the UK government through the courts claiming we are breaching EU law is much diminished. I expect their legal departments will be sharpening their fine tooth combs with a view to brushing out some loophole or other however.

"My great concern is that this document will now form the basis of any EU response to the drawing up of international treaties on tobacco advertising. This will make it significantly harder to take a strong line on things such as sponsorship of international sporting events."