9 October, 2025
ERS, the European Lung Foundation (ELF) and partners urge EU Member States to support the European Commission’s proposed reform of the Tobacco Taxation Directive (TTD) at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) on 10 October, 2025.
Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of chronic disease and premature death in Europe, claiming around 700,000 lives every year in the European Union (EU) and more than one million across the WHO European Region. The proposed reform offers a crucial opportunity to:
- Achieve a tobacco-free generation In Europe by 2040;
- Strengthen the EU’s response to tobacco-related harm;
- Improve population health;
- Ensure a fair and coherent fiscal framework across all nicotine products.
The Directive’s revision will update outdated minimum excise rates, bring all tobacco and nicotine products within the same regulatory framework and improve enforcement and transparency.
A consistent and health-focused approach to tobacco taxation strengthens Europe’s economic and social resilience by reducing tobacco use and associated economic burden.
The proposal is consistent with Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the MPOWER package, which identify taxation as one of the most effective and equitable ways to reduce tobacco use and prevent youth initiation. Stronger fiscal measures are essential to achieving the goals of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the wider EU prevention agenda.
In a joint statement, the united voices of the tobacco control community and health organisations call on EU Finance Ministers to:
- Raise EU-wide minimum excise rates
- Extending the EU framework to all nicotine products – including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, and brings raw tobacco under excise control
- Introduce regular indexation updates to minimum rates and reducing cross-border price gaps
“Taxation is a key element of tobacco control. The tobacco industry has developed many strategies to circumvent high taxes, including manipulation of cigarette prices within and across countries and taking advantage of low taxation on other nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.
“Closing those loopholes and making those products less affordable can defend public health against tobacco and protect Europeans, while improving public finances at the same time.”
– Dr Filippos Filippidis, ERS Tobacco Control Committee Chair
ERS also welcomes the engagement of patients and young people in calling for stronger protection from nicotine addiction.
“Our generation deserves clean air and healthy lungs. It’s time to raise taxes on all tobacco, vaping, and novel nicotine products. Novel products should no longer be within easy reach of youth because they drive addiction and open the door to smoking.”
– Ed Powell, the Chair of the ELF Youth Group.