Commission seeks feedback on upcoming revision of the EU Tobacco rules

The European Commission has launched a consultation on the revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive, through a call for evidence published today. All feedback is welcome from across society on this important topic, from public authorities and businesses, to academics and researchers.

The EU Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive set out the EU rules on manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products, as well as their advertising and sponsorship. Today's call for evidence builds on the Commission's recently published Evaluation of the EU tobacco control framework, which highlighted the importance of EU legislation for the protection of public health, as well as the smooth functioning of the internal market for tobacco and related products. The findings of the evaluation show that the EU rules on tobacco control have contributed to a significant decline in smoking and tobacco-related deaths across the EU. At the same time, the evaluation highlights growing challenges linked to the rapid emergence of novel tobacco and nicotine products, particularly among young people. Furthermore, both the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and Safe Hearts Plan place emphasis on the importance of tobacco control as a key component of disease prevention efforts and safeguarding the health of EU citizens, and resilience of our healthcare systems.

The revision of the Directives will also support the EU's objective of achieving a tobacco-free generation by 2040. The call for evidence is a chance for contributors to express their views and share insights on the problems to be solved, the key action areas proposed and the likely impact.

The call for evidence will run until 15 June 2026. It will inform the upcoming revision of the legislative framework on tobacco control, planned before the end of 2026.

Further information is available online.