Alternattiva Demokratika said that it commends EU commissioner Tonio Borg for keeping his word and presenting the long due revision of the Tobacco Directive. One of the positive aspects of the directive is that it recommends pictorial health warnings that cover 75% of cigarette packs.
Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, said, “Whilst the directive is to be applauded as a great move to champion people’s health above corporative interests, it fails to propose mandatory plain packaging, leaving this up to member states to impose.
“A host of preliminary studies made in Australia and other countries show, a mandatory scheme in plain packaging would go towards great lengths to prevent young smokers from lighting up their smoking habit in the first place.”
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, added, “AD calls on the Maltese government to support the revised directive and to call for further restrictions on the tobacco industry including the imposition of a ban plain packaging. If this is not included in the directive, the Maltese government should impose such a ban in national legislation.”