Poland to implement EU tobacco products directive

Poland is one of the states which will implement an EU tobacco products directive, which assumes putting graphic images such as warnings of impotence on cigarettes, a new European Commission press release read. The new directive includes larger and mandatory pictorial health warnings; a ban on cigarettes and roll-your-own products with characterising flavours; a replacement of the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) labelling; no more promotional or misleading packages; mandatory electronic reporting on ingredients; safety and quality requirements for e-cigarettes; packaging and labelling rules for e-cigarettes; monitoring and reporting of developments related to e-cigarettes; the possibility to ban cross-border distance sales; new measures to combat illicit trade. Currently, there are only eight countries, according to the European Commission, and 13 countries, according to Imperial’s Tobacco offices, which have implemented the directive into national law, that list includes Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Bulgaria and the Baltic States. Legislative processes are at work in most of the other EU countries, such as the U.K., Ireland, France and Spain. The only country with no official draft law yet is Greece.