Cigarette filters

15.11.2023

Question for written answer  E-003360/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Christel Schaldemose (S&D)

The WHO and other experts take the view that removing the filter on cigarettes would be a way of reducing the number of smokers, especially among young people. Doing this would also be good for the environment, because filters containing microplastics, chemicals and heavy metals end up as litter on land and in the oceans.

With the above in mind I should like to ask the following questions:

• 1.Will the Commission make efforts to introduce a ban on the sale of cigarettes with filters in the EU so that EU citizens, especially young people, will be less likely to smoke, and so that we can protect the environment – on land and in the oceans – from microplastics, chemicals and heavy metals from filters?
• 2.Alternatively, will the Commission make efforts to introduce legislation enabling individual Member States to introduce bans on the sale of cigarettes with filters in order to protect the public and the environment at national level?

Submitted: 15.11.2023