Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
12.9.2025
Since the adoption of the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU[1], notable public health gains have been observed, with decreases in traditional tobacco use and tobacco-related deaths. The Commission recognises the importance of timely action in tobacco control to protect public health.
The ongoing evaluation of the tobacco-control framework is a particularly complex exercise, involving a thorough review of scientific, market, and regulatory developments. The Commission is fully committed to ensuring a high level of human health protection, especially for young people.
The current tobacco-control framework regulates advertising bans for tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and refill containers in all media except television, including within Information Society Services. However, the Commission recognises the growing challenges of new marketing forms targeting young people.
The ongoing evaluation[2] involves considering a wide array of scientific, market, and regulatory developments, including the emergence of evolving marketing practices. The next steps depend on the findings of the evaluation.
The Commission is actively monitoring consumption patterns for electronic cigarettes among young people. The Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks has issued an opinion on electronic cigarettes, which includes an assessment of their use among youth[3].
In addition, the Commission uses data from various public sources, including Eurobarometer surveys, and studies commissioned under the EU4Health programme to support the ongoing evaluation.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02014L0040-20231023.
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13481-Evaluation-of-the-legislative-framework-for-tobacco-control_en.
- [3] https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/electronic-cigarettes_en.