A SMALL STEP TO A SMOKE FREE EUROPE - LIZ LYNNE MEP

1.04.02pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 25th Oct 2007

MEPs today adopted a report calling for Member States to work towards a smoke free Europe, by bringing in smoking bans similar to the ones in the UK and Ireland.

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, who is a long time anti smoking campaigner and Vice President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, was today delighted with the adoption of the report and in particular her amendment calling for health warnings to show the emerging link between smoking and blindness.

Liz's amendment calling for the European Commission to urgently investigate the use of the Swedish tobacco product "snus", in particular its links to a reduction in cigarette smoking, was also adopted.

Speaking on these issues today in Strasbourg Liz said;

"I am delighted parliamentary colleagues have supported my calls for warnings to show the horrifying links between smoking and blindness".

"Smokers need to be aware that this is one more risk they expose themselves to in the long term and I hope we will see this new warning added to cigarette packets when pictorial warnings are introduced to the UK on the 1st October 2008."

On snus Ms Lynne added:

"Snus may be one of the possible ways of ensuring a smoke free environment and help people to quit smoking, but there are still risks and it is important that the EU investigates these fully."