WRITTEN QUESTION E-1252/00 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tar content of tobacco in Greece.
13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/157 It is not for the Commission to give an opinion on the character of holders of Turkish ágreen passportsí, and it has no information on alleged unlawful acts by such persons on the territory of the Member States. (1) OJ L 72, 18. 3. 1999. (2001/C 46 E/181) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1252/00 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Tar content of tobacco in Greece (14 April 2000) The maximum tar content of cigarettes for sale within the European Union is being harmonised at a level of 10 milligrams. However, the Commission has granted Greece a long-term derogation, whereby it may continue to allow tobacco products to be sold within the country with a maximum tar content significantly higher than the EU limit. Why has the Commission granted Greece a derogation from the rules on tar content which does not accord with the Unionís public-health objectives? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (26 May 2000) Under Council Directive 90/239/EEC of 17 May 1990 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the maximum tar yield of cigarettes (1), the Commission has granted Greece a derogation enabling it to postpone its obligation to achieve a tar yield of 12 milligrams (mg) per cigarette until 31 December 2006. This derogation has been granted as a result of this Member Stateís socio-economic difficulties. Under the recasting of Council Directives 89/622/EEC of 13 November 1989 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the labelling of tobacco products (2), 90/239/EEC and 92/41/EEC of 15 May 1992 amending Directive 89/622/EEC (3), which has been proposed by the Commission (4) and is currently being discussed by Parliament and the Council, the Commission proposes to maintain Greeceís derogation for the same reasons, i. e. the socio-economic difficulties faced by this Member State. it must be pointed out that although the implementation derogation is maintained until However, 31 December 2006 (or six years from the date of adoption), the maximum tar content per cigarette has been reduced to 10 milligrams (mg). This is already contained in the recitals of the Tar Directive (90/239/EEC) and refers to the fact that tobacco produced in Greece has a high tar content. This Member State is therefore more affected by the Directiveís provisions than any other tobacco producing country. It also takes a long time to change tobacco varieties. Lastly, the number of workers employed in tobacco production in Greece is very high, thus a large number of families depend on this industry. (1) OJ L 137, 30. 5. 1990. (2) OJ L 359, 8. 12. 1989. (3) OJ L 158, 11. 6. 1992. (4) COM(1999) 594 final