Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2024) 0988
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2024/0201/BE
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
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Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20240988.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2024 0201 BE EN 10-04-2024 BE NOTIF
2. Belgium
3A. SPF Economie, PME, Classes moyennes et Energie
Direction générale Qualité et Sécurité - Service Bureau de Liaison - BELNotif
NG III – 2ème étage
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 16
B - 1000 Bruxelles
be.belnotif@economie.fgov.be
3B. Service public fédéral Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement
Direction Générale Animaux, Végétaux et Alimentation
Service inspection produits de consommation
Avenue Galilée 5/2, 1210 Bruxelles, Belgique
4. 2024/0201/BE - C60A - Labelling
5. Ministerial Order amending the Ministerial Order of 16 April 2019 on the conditions for neutrality and standardisation of unit packets and outer packaging of cigarettes, rolling tobacco and waterpipe tobacco
6. Tobacco products and herbal smoking products
7.
8. The Ministerial Order of 16 April 2019 is amended to extend standardised packaging to all tobacco products, herbal smoking products and devices, as well as to all papers, filters and tubes.
9. The proposal for standardised packaging for these products is primarily aimed at protecting children and those who do not yet use these products and who are therefore sensitive to brand elements or characteristics.
It also implements action 6.3 of the 2022-2028 Inter-Federal Strategy for a Tobacco-Free Generation.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was ratified by Belgium in November 2005 and entered into force there on 31 January 2006. Article 11 of the Framework Convention lays down strict rules for the labelling of tobacco packaging. The guidelines for implementation for this Article specifically recommend the introduction of standardised packaging: ‘Parties should consider adopting measures to restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information on packaging other than brand names and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style (plain packaging). This may increase the noticeability and effectiveness of health warnings and messages, prevent the package from detracting attention from them, and address industry package design techniques that may suggest that some products are less harmful than others.’
These guidelines also state: ‘Parties should ensure that the packaging and labelling provisions related to Article 11 of the Convention apply equally to all tobacco products sold within the jurisdiction, and that no distinction is made between products that are manufactured domestically or imported or intended for duty-free sale [...].’
The guidelines for Article 13 state: ‘Packaging and product design are important elements of advertising and promotion. Parties should consider adopting plain packaging requirements to eliminate the effects of advertising or promotion on packaging. Packaging, individual cigarettes or other tobacco products should carry no advertising or promotion, including design features that make products attractive.’
Finally, the introduction of standardised packaging for all tobacco products is one of the WHO’s ‘best buys’ for non-communicable diseases.
Directive 2014/40/EU of 3 April 2014 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC (hereinafter ‘Directive 2014/40/EU’) does not impose standardised packaging but authorises Member States that wish to do so to impose this on their territory (Article 24(2)).
The introduction of plain packaging aims to:
- reduce the attractiveness of packaging and brand image;
- improve the effectiveness of textual or visual health warnings on the packaging of tobacco products;
- reduce consumer misinformation on the harmfulness of tobacco.
Studies show that the introduction of plain packaging has proved successful and has achieved the objectives set out above. Some studies also show that plain packaging has increased smoking cessation behaviour among smokers and could contribute to tobacco denormalisation.
The rules on standardisation of unit packets and external packaging already apply in Belgium to cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, water pipe tobacco and paper and filters, which are mainly known due to a tobacco product. The objective of the draft is to extend standardised packaging to other tobacco products, herbal smoking products and devices, as well as to all papers, filters and tubes. Therefore, all products falling within the scope of the Royal Decree of XX on the manufacture and marketing of tobacco products and herbal smoking products will also fall within the scope of the Royal Decree on standardised packaging. These are two complementary measures.
The aim is therefore to harmonise the rules for these products. This is important to prevent manufacturers from using other tobacco products and herbal smoking products to promote their brand and weaken standardised packaging. An example of this type of practice is the introduction of cigarillos (e.g. Marlboro and Lucky Strike) whose unit packets resemble ‘old’ cigarette packs. Tobacco manufacturers have been shown to benefit from plain packaging not applying to cigars, cigarillos and pipe tobacco.
Another objective pursued by this draft Decree is to reduce the attractiveness of these products to young people. Regarding behavioural changes, some studies suggest that plain packaging can help deter young people from starting or continuing to smoke and raise their awareness of the dangers of smoking. It was also found that plain packaging reduced the attractiveness of cannabis (herbal smoking products) to young consumers. Therefore, the aim is to counter tobacco industry marketing strategies that are well known to target teenagers and young adults, because attracting the next ‘generation’ of smokers is critical to the industry’s survival.
Plain packaging is particularly useful in markets such as Belgium where advertising for tobacco products is prohibited. Indeed, tobacco research has shown that the importance of packaging increases when other forms of advertising are restricted.
The following countries have also extended the rules for standardised packaging to other products:
• Canada,
• New Zealand,
• Australia,
• Turkey,
• The Netherlands,
• Ireland,
• Finland,
• Denmark.
France intends to do this.
10. References to reference texts:
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects:
The draft is a technical regulation or a conformity assessment
The draft has significant impact on international trade
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
