Tobacco flavor experts sought

The European Commission is seeking candidates for an expert panel on tobacco-product flavors, according to an announcement by the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco – Europe, relayed by the TMA.

Ivan Berlin, president of the society, said yesterday that the Commission was seeking candidates for a panel that would determine whether given tobacco products had characterizing flavors, which are banned under the EU’s revised Tobacco Products Directive.

Members of the panel, who would be appointed by the Commission on the basis of their expertise in one or several areas, would be appointed for a renewable term of five years.

There was no mention of whether the panellists would be required to ‘smoke’ the cigarettes they test in the way that a regular smoker would.