MEPs have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a report calling for all EU countries to introduce an unrestricted smoking ban within two years and to halve the number of young smokers by 2025.
MEPs on the European Parliament's Environment Committee also backed
additional measures including putting hard-hitting picture warnings to
be mandatory on all tobacco products sold in the European Union;
declaring tobacco smoke a class 1 carcinogen; and ensuring cigarette
machines are not accessible to young people.
Scottish Labour MEP David Martin, a Member of the Environment
Committee, said: "The number of young people smoking is of great
concern, along with the existing ban in enclosed public places I want
to see measures aimed specifically at young people including affordable
access to products to help them kick the habit.
"Member States must commit themselves to reduce smoking among young
people by at least 50 per cent by 2025 and I am pleased that my
colleagues in the Environment Committee voted to accept these
proposals."
MEPs will be voting in October to adopt a smoking ban in all areas of the European Parliament.
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