Will a ban on cigarettes be imposed? Here is the government's position
The World Health Organization has opened a major five-day summit in Geneva to discuss new stringent measures against tobacco, including the possibility of banning filtered cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Austria quickly issued a clear national response as the global discussion widened.
Representatives from 180 countries are examining the impact of tobacco companies on policies, as well as the risks of new nicotine products — especially vapes — on children and adolescents. Experts from the World Health Organization have recommended banning the import and production of filtered cigarettes, which account for about 90% of the market and are a significant source of plastic waste.
A report issued by a study group affiliated with the organization explicitly calls for a ban on filters to reduce the appeal of cigarettes and ease of consumption. The Council of the European Union supports this approach, emphasizing that banning the manufacture and sale of filtered cigarettes could significantly help reduce tobacco consumption. There is also a discussion about imposing an additional ban on electronic cigarettes.
In Austria, such laws will be highly impactful, as 95% of the cigarettes sold contain filters. Authorities in the European Union are even considering imposing a sales ban in shops, gas stations, and tobacconists to reduce addiction. The World Health Organization confirms that filters may lead smokers to inhale more deeply, increasing their exposure to harmful substances, while the plastic used in them causes significant environmental damage. The image attributed to Jens Schicke highlights the increasing seriousness of this issue.
In response to an inquiry from the newspaper Heute, the Austrian Ministry of Health issued a clear and decisive statement: There will be no ban on cigarettes, no ban on tobacco shops, no ban on cigarette filters, and none of this will be imposed against the will of Austria. The Geneva summit will now reveal how willing the international community is to move forward — and whether Austria will accept to follow these strict measures.