Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia joined another 15 European health ministers in a call for MEPs to agree to start talks as soon as possible with a view to reaching agreement on the Tobacco Products Directive by the end of this year.

The other countries in the call were Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The Tobacco Products Directive is consistent with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to which all EU states are signatories.

The ministers noted that tobacco remains the single largest cause of avoidable illness in the European Union causing the deaths of an estimated 700,000 EU citizens each year.

They adopted their position on the Directive at the EPSCO Council on June 21. The council supports a strong directive which will over time lead to a significant reduction in the number of smokers. Its position foresees large mandatory text and picture health warnings covering 65 per cent of the front and back of cigarette packs and the prohibition of tobacco products with a characterising flavour.

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