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Tobacco control

Overview

Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death across Europe. Helping people to stop smoking is the most cost-effective health intervention we can make to prevent lung cancer, chronic lung diseases and countless other health problems.

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) encourages governments to implement and enforce tobacco control policies, in order to prevent tobacco use and to help those who currently smoke to kick the habit using evidence-based means.

94%

of smokers start before they are 25. We support plain packaging legislation and stricter tobacco control policies to reduce the number of smokers.

1.0 bn

people will die from smoking in the 21st century if no action is taken to address current trends in tobacco use.

33%

of the world’s burden of tobacco-related disease occurs in Europe, even though only 15% of the world’s population live on the continent.

ERS Tobacco Control Committee members

Filippos Filippidis

ERS Tobacco Control Committee Chair

Learn about the committee

Objectives of the policy:

Increase awareness of the evidence that links tobacco-product use with respiratory disease among policymakers and the public.
Encourage EU member states to implement tobacco control and smoking cessation policies in accordance with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Articles 8, 12 and 14 across Europe.
Advocate for evidence-based methods to support smoking cessation which protect lung health.

Activities:

Working directly with EU policymakers and civil society organisations to build support for the implementation of tobacco control measures.
Publishing statements and responses to tobacco-control related activities, offering evidence-based policy recommendations.
Representing the respiratory community’s interests at the EU policy level.

Introduction to Dr Filippos Filippidis and the ERS Tobacco Control Committee

Read the latest publication by the ERS Tobacco Control Committee

ERS Latin America Working Group

The ERS Latin America Working Group (LAWG) was set up in 2015 as part of the ERS Tobacco Control Committee, in order to strengthen our tobacco related activities in Latin American countries and in Spain and Portugal. Download the ERS LAWG reports:

Tobacco Control in Latin American and Iberian Countries Volume 1

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Portugal, Uruguay

Tobacco Control in Latin American and Iberian Countries Volume 2

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru

Tobacco Control recommendations for Iberian and Latin American Countries

Further information

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

ERS Tobacco Control Committee Bylaws (Article 11)

Resources

Access position papers and responses prepared by the ERS Tobacco Control Committee and ERS learning resources.

European health organisations urge EU Member States to support the EU Commission’s proposal for smoke- and aerosol-free environments

A clear choice for better health: support Council Recommendations on smoke- and aerosol-free environments

Updated ERS position paper on tobacco harm reduction

Tobacco 21 Factsheet

WHO knowledge summary: Tobacco and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

ERS/ELF submission to the European Commission’s tobacco control consultation: ‘Evaluation of legislative framework for tobacco control’

Statement on Tobacco 21 from the European Respiratory Society Tobacco Control Committee

Tobacco control and the ERS: new problems and old foes

World No Tobacco Day: smoking, nicotine and children

ERS position paper on heated tobacco products

E-learning for primary care providers: brief tobacco interventions

Joint ATCA/ENSP/ERS/GGTC issue brief: How the tobacco industry undermines cessation

Alliances

Framework Convention Alliance (FCA)

The FCA is a confederation of nearly 500 organisations from more than 100 countries, which banded together to support the negotiation, ratification and implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Other policy areas

EU policies and research

Non-communicable diseases

Environment and health

European Lung Foundation (ELF)

In partnership with ERS, the European Lung Foundation brings patients and the public together with healthcare professionals to improve lung health and advance diagnosis treatment and care.

Visit the ELF website

In the news

News

Milestone for health in Europe as revised air quality law confirmed by EU Environment Council

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Lung Foundation (ELF) have welcomed a major step forward for health in Europe after EU Environment Ministers gave the final green light to the amended Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD).

News

World No Tobacco Day social reels challenge winners announced

For World No Tobacco Day 2024, ERS sponsored a prize in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Global Centre for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) social reels challenge.

News

World Lung Day 2024: International Respiratory Societies call for urgent action on air pollution

Seven million deaths annually are attributed to air pollution-related illnesses like COPD, lung cancer and respiratory infections. The European Respiratory Society (ERS) calls on global leaders to intensify efforts to combat air pollution, a leading cause of lung disease and death worldwide.