EU prepares to ban tobacco use in outdoor areas: Commission draft leaked to the press

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

It has been alleged that the European Commission is preparing a smoking ban for cafes, bus stops, and zoos. This claim is based on a draft law that the EU Commission is working on. According to reports in the press, the proposal will also cover nicotine-free products.

According to the leaked draft, the European Commission will propose extending the current smoking ban to outdoor areas, including innovative products that do not contain nicotine. 

The draft, which is expected to be adopted by the EU administration, will expand the existing 2009 guidelines aimed at reducing exposure to smoke from secondhand smoking in public spaces, workplaces, and public transport. 

According to the draft that Euronews claims to have obtained, the new regulation aims to clear not only cigarette smoke but all harmful 'aerosols' from public spaces. According to Euronews, the change is a result of growing concerns about the health risks posed by new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes. 

EU guidelines are not legally binding, but they provide a framework that member states should follow to prevent tobacco-related cancer. The Commission argues that the implementation carried out between 2009 and 2012 prevented people from being exposed to smoke.

News Source: 12punto