(38) In order to make this Directive fully operational and to keep up with technical, scientific and international developments in tobacco manufacture, consumption and regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission, in particular in respect of adopting and adapting maximum yields for emissions and their measurement methods, setting maximum levels for ingredients that increase toxicity, addictiveness or attractiveness , the use of health warnings, unique identifiers and security features in the labelling and packaging, defining ...[+++] key elements for contracts on data storage with independent third parties, reviewing certain exemptions granted to tobacco products other than cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco products and reviewing the nicotine levels for nicotine containing products .

Main exemptions relate to the notices addressed to specialists within the industry; advertising at points of sale (under strict conditions); advertisements in publications published in other countries, unless the main objective is to advertise tobacco in Denmark; the use of a name, used before 13/12/2000 both for tobacco products and for other products to advertise such other products in a form in which it differs clearly from the appearance of the name of the tobacco product; the use of a name, which is well-known from tobacco pr ...[+++]oducts, in advertising of other products and services, provided that the other product or service is only marketed in a restricted geographical area. Sponsorship for the benefit of tobacco products is prohibited, as is any form of distribution aimed at promoting the sale of tobacco products.

The messures include restricting the access of children and adolescents to tobacco vending machines and to tobacco distance and internet sales; removing tobacco products from self service displays; preventing the sale of cigarettes in (cheaper) packages of fewer than twenty; and requiring vendors of tobacco products to verify that purchasers have reached the age limit set in national laws.

However, it is hypocrisy on the part of the Commission to maintain that it is helping to protect public health by introducing more taxes on tobacco products, which are a widely consumed product, when it leaves consumers at the mercy of very dangerous products in the food chain, imported tobacco products of dubious quality, and is pushing for health to be completely privatised.

The main amendments are : 1. all tobacco products are to carry - in addition to the general (tobacco seriously damages health) a specific health warning 2. packs of rolling tobacco now are to carry the same health warnings as cigarettes! (see Annex) 3. packs of cigares, cigarillos, pipe tobacco and other smoking tobacco products are to carry the same health warnings as cigarettes except the one referring to heart diseases (see Annex). 4. smokeless tobacco products (mainly traditional chewing tobacco ...[+++]) carry the general health warning "tobacco seriously damages health" plus the specific warning "can cause cancer". 5. a new optional warning has been added (see Annex)". Smoking causes addiction" Scientists consider nicotine addiction the major driving force behind tobacco consumption.

The text of the warning must cover a minimum of 10% of the total advertising insert. b) The content of the advertisement is restricted solely to the presentation of the packaging of the tobacco product. This presentation may be accompanied by information on the features of the product, but the tar yield must be clearly indicated. c) Advertising for tobacco products in publications intended for young people under 18 is prohibited. This is the group which is most at risk from advertising and which most readily associates the consumption of tobacco products with professional suc ...[+++]cess, adventure and freedom. d) Indirect advertising in the press and by means of bills and posters is prohibited.