Europe approves a strict tobacco regulation

The European Parliament has approved legislation that aims to reduce tobacco use . The new law will allow the graphic warning labels on cigarette packets and eliminate menthol .Schockbilder auf ZigarettenpackungenParliament approved the measure 514-66 on Wednesday when the vote , with 58 abstentions . EU governments will now draw up a final agreement on the reforms , expected to be approved by March 14 . The new measures are a major step forward for tobacco control , and will help to prevent the next generation of smokers were recruited  , who pushed the legislation through parliament .The new regulationsThe agreement reached Wednesday following the compromise made in December between Parliament and EU member governments . The new regulations cover about 90 percent of the tobacco products .Measure requires 65 percent of the front and back of cigarette packs containing health warnings , including graphic photos depicting the diseases caused by smoking . Flavored tobacco products with high sales volume will be banned and four- year phased plan for the popular menthol cigarettes will be implemented .


The deal also includes rules for E - cigarettes , such as allowing individual EU countries to decide whether they should be available in pharmacies .' Crush Effect 'The tobacco industry lobbied intensely against the new changes , the critics said the legislation would restrict consumer choice , encourage illegal trade in cigarettes , costing the government and reduce jobs . However , European Union lawmakers said the deal was designed to combat " adverse impact " cigarettes have been on the block . By ensuring that tobacco products look and taste like tobacco products , these new rules will help to reduce the number of people who start smoking in the European Union  , the bloc 's health commissioner .In 2012 , approximately 28 percent of the 500 million EU citizens believed to be smokers . Approximately 700,000 people die every year in the block from smoking-related causes .