Germany has supported the hardening of the European Union’s position for the next Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention (COP11), which will be held in Geneva from November 17 to 22, 2025, but has set a red line that it does not share, which is the possible ban on the elimination of cigarette filters. Among the reasons, there would be a “false security”, as stated HuffPost.
In this sense, Berlin says: “We do not agree with the proposal to ban filters.” On the other hand, a spokeswoman declared to Eurotiv that, for now, “There are no plans to ban filtered cigarettes” at EU level, although it is also unclear why a global ban is being proposed while being ruled out at EU level.
You may be interested
Inés Rodrigo, resident doctor: “I charge 500 euros for a 24-hour shift on weekends, but I pay the real price with my physical and mental health”
Portugal approves nicotine bags, opposes cigarettes and activates a special tax to increase revenue
Now, the question is why do they want to eliminate cigarette filters? Well, basically it is for two reasons. The first of them is for public health, since they allude to the fact that the filters do not reduce exposure to toxins or the risk of disease, although that would be called into question since the objective of the filters is to reduce the amount of tar, nicotine and other harmful particles that reach the smoker’s mouth when inhaling smoke.
The other reason is environmental, since these filters are made of plastic. Now, on this point it should be noted that there is already a regulatory framework in Europe, this being the Single-Use Plastics Directive (can be consulted in this Official State Gazette). Within this framework there are measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility or awareness campaigns, but in no case is there a prohibition as such.
The filter ban would bring back the tobacco of the last century
Cigarette filters are among the issues at COP11, the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This is an intergovernmental process between national delegations that negotiate behind closed doors and the documentation is disseminated in stages, once the agreements have been adopted.
Although it must be clarified that the WHO cannot impose the removal of filters on its own, the fact that this measure is approved and goes ahead could lead to cigarettes from the last century being seen in Spain again, that is, without filters.
However, the decisions are approved by the Parties at the COP and, where appropriate, then require their transposition into the legal frameworks of each country or the European Union.
In the debate, those who defend the ban maintain that the filters do not significantly reduce health damage and aggravate microplastic contamination; His critics warn that a veto could slow the development of more sustainable alternatives. The outcome of COP11 will determine the real scope of any regulatory change and the timetable for its implementation.