Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason tar levels are not prominently displayed on rolling tobacco; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54827/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The 2001 Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC) relates to the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products in the EU. This directive sets out the provision that the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) yields of cigarettes shall be printed on cigarette packs. While all tobacco products must include health warnings, the provision relating to the TNCO yields relates to cigarette packs only. The Tobacco Directive was transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 425/2003 - European Communities (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco Products) Regulations 2003.

The European Commission has undertaken a public consultation in relation to this Directive in order to ascertain whether the existing Directive is adequately functioning in view of new international, scientific and market developments in the last decade. The display of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels is one of the issues being considered in the context of the revision of the Directive by the European Commission. It is anticipated that the Commission will publish a legislative proposal in relation to the revision of the Directive in the near future. Following the publication Ireland will play a significant role in progressing the revision of the Directive with other Member States during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union commencing in January, 2013.