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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jul 9.
Published in final edited form as: Governance (Oxf). 2009 Jan;22(1):73–97. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-0491.2008.01422.x

TABLE 2.

EU Tobacco Control Legislation and Recommendations 1989–2007

Name of Measure Key Requirements
Labeling directives 1989, 1992 Require rotating health warnings on tobacco products.
Ban the marketing of certain tobacco products for oral use.
Advertising directives 1989, 1997, 1998, 2003 Ban all forms of TV advertising for tobacco products. Ban on tobacco advertising in the press, radio, and on the Internet. Ban on tobacco sponsorship of events with cross-border effects.
Tar Yield Directive 1990 Sets a maximum tar yield of 15 mg per cigarette by December 31, 1992, and of 12 mg per cigarette from December 31, 1997.
Tax directives 1992, 1995, 2002 Set minimum levels of excise duties on cigarettes and tobacco.
Tobacco Product Regulation Directive 2001 Larger warning labels are required on all tobacco products; descriptors suggesting that one tobacco product are less harmful than another are banned; manufacturers and importers must submit a list of all ingredients used in the manufacture of tobacco products. Maximum levels of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide are established for cigarettes (10 mg tar per cigarette, 1 mg nicotine per cigarette, 10 mg carbon monoxide per cigarette.
Workplace Air Quality directives 1989, 1992 Require employers to ensure that workers have access to fresh air and ventilation.
Framework Directive on Health and Safety in Workplace 1989 EEC requires a health assessment to be carried out by employees, which should include exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace.
Resolution on smoking in public places 1989 Invites Member States to adopt measures banning smoking in public places and on all forms of public transportation (nonbinding).
Pregnant Women Directive 1992 Requires employers to take action to protect pregnant and breastfeeding women from exposure to an exhaustive list of substances, including carbon monoxide.
Carcinogens Directive 1990 Restricts smoking in workplace areas where carcinogenic substances are handled.
Council resolutions 1993, 1996, 1999 Proposals to Member States and the Commission measures to combat smoking (nonbinding). Council recommendation.
Council recommendation 2003 Concerns aspects of tobacco control that are the responsibility of the Member States, including tobacco sales to children and adolescents; tobacco advertising and promotion that has no cross-border effects; provision of information on advertising expenditure; environmental effects of tobacco smoke (nonbinding).