The European Parliament agreed Wednesday to gradually phase out tobacco advertising and tobacco sponsorship across the 15-nation European Union.
The decision, announced at a meeting in Strasbourg, France, will abolish almost all tobacco advertising by 2006.
Most tobacco advertising will be illegal within four years and cigarette makers will have until October 2006 to end their sponsorship of major sports and cultural events.
“This directive is a giant leap forward in the fight to reduce smoking, save lives and protect children from the perniciousness of tobacco advertising and promotion,” British Public Health Minister Tessa Jowell said.
Germany and Austria had opposed the ban, arguing that a public health issue should be left to individual EU nations to decide.
Tobacco advertising is already banned in Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden. Belgium plans to ban it next year.
Proposals to ban tobacco ads across the EU have repeatedly failed since they were first introduced 10 years ago and cigarette producers have fought the proposed legislation until Wednesday’s vote.
Advertisers and newspaper and magazine publishers also oppose the ban.
