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Germany to help Poland stub out EU menthol cigarette ban?

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 07.06.2013 13:35
The Polish government is hoping that German support will prove decisive in blocking a draft EU directive than would ban menthol and slim cigarettes.
Photo: GlowimagesPhoto: Glowimages

Photo:
Photo: Glowimages

The Economy Ministry has stated that the draft directive “does not take into account the social and economic consequences in terms of loss of income and jobs in agriculture, industry and trade, as well as the threat of smuggling and illegal production,” as quoted by the Rzeczpospolita daily.

Some 20 percent of Poland's booming tobacco industry is in menthol cigarettes.

Nevertheless, Germany appears poised to join other European countries opposing the ban.

The EU's draft directive was drawn up because menthol and slim cigarettes allegedly make smoking “too attractive” to schoolchildren.

Rzeczpospolita notes however that although a final standpoint has not been taken in Berlin, Germany's coalition government believes that such a theory cannot be followed without scientific proof.

“It's important that Poland is not alone in this fight,” reflected Grzegorz Byszewski, an expert from the Employers of Poland association.

“Among others, we are supported by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Portugal, Hungary and Denmark. In this context, the potential additional support of Germany is important because it is the largest country of the Community,” he added.

“So the situation is now looking very good, but its important that Poland makes use of this and intensifies its diplomatic efforts,” he said.

It has been estimated that if the plan is introduced, the Polish state could miss out budget revenues from taxes on tobacco products to the level of 8.85 billion zloty per year (2 billion euro).

Meanwhile, Poland's Health Ministry has estimated that about 90,000 Poles die each year from smoking-related diseases. (nh)

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