European Cancer Plan: The Commission for a tobacco-free Europe by 2040

February 4th marks World Cancer Day. With 40% of cancer cases attributed to preventable causes, the European Union (EU) recommends in its new cancer plan, published on February 3, 2021[1], to strengthen tobacco control policies to create a tobacco-free Europe by 2040.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in France and the second in the European Union: 1.3 million deaths and 2.7 million new cases in 2020 (EU). If nothing is done, the number of lives lost to cancer is expected to increase by more than 24% by 2035, making it the leading cause of death. It is estimated that 40% of EU citizens will be confronted with cancer at some point in their lives, with an annual economic impact estimated at around €100 billion. Tobacco consumption remains the leading cause of preventable cancer, with 27% of all cancers being attributed to smoking. The latter also often have poorer survival prognoses. By eliminating smoking, nine out of ten cases of lung cancer could be prevented.

By implementing the EU's tobacco control framework more rigorously and adapting it to new products, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan proposes actions from this year to help create a tobacco-free Europe, where fewer than 5% of the population use tobacco by 2040, compared to around 25% today.

Strengthening the European system and better application of existing regulations

The new plan states that regulatory instruments at EU level will be strengthened to achieve the goal of a tobacco-free Europe by 2040. Decisive steps will be taken by revising the Tobacco Products Directive, there Tobacco Taxation Directive and the legal framework on cross-border purchases of tobacco by individuals. This includes:

• the establishment of neutral packaging for all member countries;
• a total ban on flavors;
• improving the assessment of ingredients contained in cigarettes;
• the extension of taxation to new tobacco products and;
• the fight against tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship on the Internet and social networks.

By 2023, the Commission also recommends extending the recommendations of the EU Council on smoke-free environments to include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products with an extension of the scheme to outdoor public places. The new cancer plan aims to create momentum to better implement the measures in the national tobacco control strategies of the Member States. This concerns in particular compliance with the ban on the sale of these products to minors and aid for smokers to quit smoking. This approach is part of the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which also includes obligations regarding the protection of public policies against tobacco industry lobbying. This involves, in particular, compliance with the principle of transparency, as, for example, the European Union's transparency register.

Keywords: Europe, cancer plan, tobacco, 2040