The European Respiratory Society will host a World No Tobacco Day event, Plain-packaging to protect our youth: “Progress made, challenges ahead”, in collaboration with the European Network for Smoking Prevention (ENSP) to highlight the research-backed benefits of plain packaging on tobacco products and to celebrate the countries who have led the way – hoping to encourage remaining countries to follow their lead.
The event will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels on 31 May, 2016 and supports the theme announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for this year’s World No Tobacco Day campaign, which is: “Get ready for plain-packaging”. It is also timely alongside the introduction of plain packaging on tobacco products in the U.K, Ireland and France.
The upcoming event will be a high-level conference hosted by MEP Gilles Pargneaux and MEP Brian Hayes and is designed to cover the important issues surrounding tobacco control in Europe with an emphasis on plain packaging – in particular how it can protect teenagers and children. The sessions will include discussions around tobacco control policies in Europe, European Parliament activities on tobacco control, good practices at national level, the existing research on the benefits of plain packaging and future considerations.
Chairing the event is ERS President Professor Jørgen Vestbo and the ENSP President Professor Francisco Rodriguez Lozano. There will also be a high profile list of international keynote speakers presenting on the day including Dr Vytenis Andriukaitis, Health Commissioner at the European Commission, Ms Nicola Smith, Deputy Head of the Australian Mission to Belgium and Dr Roberto Bertollini, Chief Scientist and WHO to the EU .
An awards ceremony will also take place to recognise successes to date.
All healthcare professionals and other respiratory stakeholders are welcome to attend this free event.
" I firmly believe that plain-packaging for tobacco products is a crucial cost-effective public health policy for reducing tobacco use in young people. Evidence from Australia shows that plain-packaging works. It should be introduced as part of a package of measures including smoke free legislation and smoking cessation support services. Ireland, the UK and France have already adopted measures to protect children from tobacco and I am calling today all European countries to follow this example."
Prof. Carlos Jimenez-Ruiz
Chair of the ERS Tobacco Control Committee