EU report finds smoking kills 650,000 annually

SMOKING kills 650,000 people in Europe every year, with many dying 22 years before the average mortality rate, according to an EU report on tobacco.

But the tobacco companies refuse to reveal what addictive and other additives they put in to cigarettes, saying they are trade secrets.

The report, released by Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection David Byrne in Brussels yesterday, says companies must be forced to reveal all the ingredients and have them tested for toxicity.

It says even today, 50 years after lung cancer was found to be caused by smoking, the full extent of the damage caused by tobacco is unknown.

Every day more diseases are being discovered to be caused by smoking. It estimates 13 million smokers are known to suffer from serious disease and as many as 100,000 non-smokers.

The study, presented by Dr Ann McNeil of University College London, describes the situation as a tobacco epidemic and warns the full extent of the damage to women has not been realised yet as female smoking is still increasing.

The ill effects of smoking costs EU countries between €98 and €130 billion a year - up to 1.39% of the regions GDP for 2000, the report says.

“The true costs are undoubtedly higher, and will continue to escalate if appropriate measures are not taken.”

Despite this tobacco is the most heavily subsidised crop per hectare in Europe - nearly €1,000 million of EU money is spent on subsidies. These are due to be phased out by 2010.

The EU imports tobacco and manufactures 20% of the world’s supply of cigarettes.

The report strongly recommends EU countries harmonise tax on cigarettes and takes Ireland’s example in increasing the cost regularly and banning smoking in all public places including pubs.