Tobacco March against EU Smoking Rule

Source from:  Sky News  01/23/2013

Thousands of tobacconists from across Europe have marched on European Union headquarters to protest against a planned EU crackdown on smoking, similar to measures already in place in Australia.

Police say more than 2, 000 marchers from Austria, Germany, Poland, France and Italy protested against measures they say harm small retailers, and encourage cigarette smuggling.

In December, the European Commission released new proposals including a ban on menthol cigarettes, and large health warnings covering 75 per cent of packets.

Packs of fewer than 20 cigarettes and slims would also be banned, while electronic cigarettes, which contain some nicotine, would only be authorised as medicinal products.

However, the new rules must be approved by member states as well as the European Parliament, meaning legislation would come into effect in a minimum of three years.

The head of Austria's VCPO tobacconists Klaus W Fisher says smoking is part of the culture of Europe, and if adopted the measures will end up like prohibition in the US in the 1920s. Enditem