Question raised about manufacturer liability for health care costs

The European Commission has been asked whether or not it is to include in its proposal for the revision of the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive manufacturer liability for the financing of all health care costs arising from tobacco consumption.

The proposed revisions are due to be made public before the end of the year.

In a preamble to a number of written parliamentary questions, Karl-Heinz Florenz, of the European People’s Party grouping, said that in its 2007 resolution on the green paper, ‘Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level’, the European parliament had demanded the application of product liability in respect of manufacturers and the introduction of manufacturer liability for the financing of all health costs arising from tobacco consumption.

‘Will the Commission proposal for a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive take up the above-mentioned demand made by the European Parliament?,’ he asked. ‘If so, in what form? If not, why not?

‘If manufacturer responsibility does not form part of the new proposal expected in November, will it be introduced in another context (e.g. at a later time or in another Commission legislative proposal)?’