European health organisations call for ambitious tobacco tax policy – a unique opportunity to save lives and protect young people

EuroHealthNet has joined over 50 European and international health organisations in supporting a joint statement calling for an ambitious revision of the EU Tobacco Excise Directive (TTD).

Every year, more than 700,000 Europeans die from tobacco-related causes. The revision of the Directive is a crucial opportunity to align taxation with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and prevent up to one in four cancers linked to tobacco use.

The joint statement urges EU Member States to uphold the ambition of the European Commission’s proposal by introducing higher minimum excise duties on all tobacco and nicotine products, including heated tobacco and e-cigarettes. Taxation is one of the most effective measures to reduce tobacco use, particularly among young people, while also increasing public revenue. The coalition also calls for equal taxation across all tobacco and nicotine products, to address misleading “reduced-risk” marketing and protect young people from nicotine initiation.

Read the full joint statement here.