Smoke-free environments
Promoting a Smoke and Aerosol Free (SAFE) Europe
Work Package 5 aims to support the integration and enforcement of the new Council Recommendation on Smoke-free Environments (SAFE) across the EU, focusing on reducing exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosols (SHS-SHA). Key activities include real-world data collection on SHS and SHA exposure in public outdoor spaces – such as playgrounds, school entrances and hospitality terraces – across 15 EU Member States. The WP also strengthens a web-based repository of SAFE best practices, assesses enforcement strategies used across countries, and translates evidence into practical guidelines. In its final phase, WP5 supports Member States through in-country visits to increase SAFE implementation, uptake and compliance.
The mission is to provide scientific evidence and practical support to EU Member States for successfully implementing and enforcing the revised Council Recommendation on Smoke-free Environments. This work directly contributes to reducing harmful SHS and SHA exposure in public indoor and outdoor spaces.
Objectives
- To facilitate collaboration and exchange of best practices of SAFE in EU MS
- To facilitate real-world data collection on the expansion of SAFE in EU MS
- To support uptake and compliance with the adoption of SAFE in EU MS
- To update and expand the web-based repository of SAFE practices
- To quantify SHS-SHA exposure in playgrounds, school entrances, and hospitality terraces across EU MS
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different enforcement strategies for SAFE implementation
- To develop and disseminate guidelines to reinforce public understanding of the scientific evidence to expand SAFE
- To support individual EU MS in implementing SAFE through in-country visits
Actions
Planned activities
- To quantify SHS-SHA exposure in playgrounds, school entrances, and hospitality terraces noted by the 2024 Council Recommendations on SAFE in EU MS: This is a major fieldwork task measuring airborne nicotine concentration using active sampling and systematic observational methods across 15 EU MS (300 measurements per setting).
- To update and include new promising SAFE practices within a Web-based repository throughout the course of JA-SAFE: The existing web-based repository is continually updated and expanded, specifically concerning SAFE and unregulated nicotine products, following consultation with experts.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different enforcement strategies for the implementation of SAFE in EU MS: This task reviews and exchanges knowledge on enforcement procedures such as warning letters, fines, and legal action, building on previous EU assessments.
- To support individual EU MS in implementing SAFE: Targeted in-country visits are performed in selected Member States to provide specific support for implementation or expansion of SAFE, particularly focusing on high-exposure settings.
Expected outcomes
- Increased compliance with SAFE measures through a strong scientific evidence base for policymaking
- Key deliverables, including:
- Report on best practices for SAFE in EU Member States
- Report on practices related to SAFE in EU Member States
- Report on the JA-SAFE actions at the EU Member State level
- At least five countries taking concrete action based on the project’s findings
- At least five countries integrating results into their national plans
- Public dissemination of simplified scientific evidence to strengthen understanding and support wider SAFE adoption across Europe