EUREST-FLAVOURS: European Regulatory Science on Tobacco to support the assessment of characterising flavours in tobacco products

Aim and objective The European Union (EU) Tobacco Product Directive (TPD) concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products states in Article 7.1 that Member States (MS) shall prohibit the placing on the market of tobacco products with characterising flavours. The objective of the EUREST-FLAVOURS project is provide services to the European Commission (EC) to support the assessment of characterising flavours in tobacco products. Methods Using a comprehensive approach for tobacco product testing, the proposed methodology will be based on a comparison of the smelling properties of the test products with those of reference products, complemented, as appropriate, by a chemical assessment of the product composition through chemical analyses. Results The results of the EUREST-FLAVOURS project will culminate in a clear science-based decision criteria to support the EC in the development of uniform rules for the procedures to determine whether a tobacco product imparts a characterising flavour. Conclusions The EUREST-FLAVOURS project, through the specification of the methodology for sensory analyses and setting up a sensory ‘Technical group’, which will assist an ‘Independent advisory panel’, will ultimately support the EC and MS in the implementation of legislation and policies in the area of tobacco and related products, in particular in relation to the provisions regarding the prohibition of products with characterising flavours foreseen in Article 7 of the TPD. Funding Τhe EUREST-FLAVOURS Project takes place with the financial support of the European Commission Single framework Contract Chafea/2016/Health/36. The content represents the views of the EUREST-FLAVOURS Consortium and is its sole responsibility; it can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or Chafea or any other body of the European Union.