Proposed new tobacco directive would cause “massive” job losses in Germany

Tobacco companies in Germany have warned of massive job cuts should the EU force companies to place larger health warnings on cigarette packs, according to a Handelsblatt story.

The works councils of Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, Reemtsma (Imperial Tobacco), Japan Tobacco International, von Eicken, Landewyck and Lekkerland said the introduction of new rules under the proposed new Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) would lead to the elimination of as many as 100,000 jobs in the country.

The EU parliament is due to vote on the proposed TPD, which includes, too, recommendations on banning and restricting a wide range of tobacco and nicotine products, on Oct. 8.