Proposal for banning tobacco advertising on points of sale and in sports broadcasts - Cancer plan II

The president of France, Nicolas SARKOZY, proposed on November 2, 2009, as part of the second cancer plan 2009-2013, to “ban advertisements on the points of sale and during motor sports broadcasts.”

Evin law, enacted on the 10th of January 1991, in force since January 1st, 1993, fell within a public health policy.

The main measures relating to tobacco are the following:

A ban on sponsoring;

Setting maximum tar content levels;

Information and protection of consumers through health messages on packets;

Protecting nonsmokers: banning smoking in public spaces, setting smoke free zones…;

Authorizing a raise in prices (withdrawal of tobacco from consumer price index);

Possibility for anti-tobacco associations to sue violators of the law;

Banning direct and indirect advertisements, at the exception of advertising inside points of sale;

Consequently, advertising tobacco or tobacco merchandising is banned in the media.

The first paragraph of section L. 3511-3 of the Code of public health bans, whatever the medium used “propaganda or advertisement, direct or indirect, in favor of tobacco or tobacco merchandising, as well as all free distribution […]. “Nevertheless, section L. 3511-5 of the same code states that “Television channels are authorized to broadcast motor sports that take place in a country in which tobacco advertising is authorized.”

Nicolas SARKOZY follows in the 1st cancer plan set up by Jacques Chirac to fight against cancer, a major issue in France. He stressed that cancer was the first cause of mortality since 2004, an illness that concerns everyone, at which “we cannot stay unresponsive.” Information campaigns on risks related to smoking should increase soon.