ASPECT Report

Tobacco or Health in the European Union - Past, Present and Future

At a press conference in Brussels on October 22, 2005, David Byrne, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, launched the ASPECT report on European Union (EU) tobacco control. This is the first comprehensive overview of the tobacco epidemic in the enlarged EU. This report was produced by a consortium of experts, led by the ERS, and includes:

• all the latest evidence on the health effects of tobacco use and exposure
• the economic evidence
• a history of EU policy on tobacco control
• a review of the most effective policy interventions and what works in Europe
• a chapter on effective tobacco product regulation
• a chapter analysing industry efforts to block TC legislation and policies in Europe
• 40 recommendations for a comprehensive tobacco-control strategy.

Commissioner Byrne welcomed the ASPECT report recommendations. He went on to say that he hopes these recommendations will contribute to the Commission's policy on tobacco control in the future.

 Read the executive summary and full report