EU health ministers have agreed to a ban on menthol and other flavoured cigarettes and a range of other anti-smoking measures.

The Council of Ministers, chaired by Health Minister James Reilly, yesterday agreed on a range of measures aimed at reducing the number of people taking up smoking in the EU.

The agreement includes new rules on how tobacco products should be labelled, packaged and manufactured. It also targets product 'attractiveness', with young people in mind.

Ministers agreed on:
* Mandatory combined (picture and text) health warnings covering 65% of the area of all cigarette and roll-your-own tobacco packs;
* Minimum packet dimensions to ensure greater visibility of health warnings and rule out the possibility of 'lipstick'-style smaller packs popular among young people;
* A ban on tobacco products with a 'characterising flavour' other than tobacco, like fruit or menthol, seen to facilitate smoking uptake by masking the tobacco flavour;
* Provisions for the setting up of a new EU-wide tracking and tracing system to combat illicit trade;
* Stricter rules for nicotine-containing products which will require those over a certain level of nicotine to be authorised as pharmaceuticals.

Minister Reilly warmly welcomed the announcement, saying it marked a huge step forward in the fight against tobacco use, as well as a 'victory for public health against those unwilling to acknowledge the devastating consequences of tobacco addiction in our society.'