site.btaOver 8,300 Bulgarian Tobacco Growers Urge EC to Assess Impact of New Regulations on Tobacco Products on Rural Areas

More than 8,300 Bulgarian tobacco growers have sent a video address to the European Commission in connection with the public consultation on the forthcoming revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, the National Tobacco Growers Association in Bulgaria said on Saturday.

In their message, the producers urge that future legislative changes should not lead to economic, social or demographic harm to tobacco-growing regions in Bulgaria and across the European Union, nor create conditions for an expansion of the illicit tobacco trade.

"What is decided on paper in Brussels is a matter of survival for tobacco-growing regions in Bulgaria and the European Union," the address states.

The message comes at a time when Brussels is preparing one of the most extensive revisions of European legislation on tobacco and nicotine products in more than a decade. The planned changes are expected to cover both traditional tobacco products and newer smoke-free alternatives. The results of the public consultation will be used in drafting legislative proposals in 2026.

National Tobacco Growers Association Chair Tsvetan Filev said that the perspective of people living in rural areas whose livelihoods depend on tobacco production is increasingly absent from the public debate.

The Association called on European institutions to conduct a thorough assessment of the impact of future regulations on agricultural producers, local economies and employment in regions where tobacco cultivation remains a primary source of income.

The consultation is open to citizens, organizations and stakeholders from across the European Union and will continue until June 15 through the European Commission's online platform.

According to the association, the socio-economic consequences of future regulations are becoming an increasingly prominent part of the discussion. Alongside issues related to public health, youth protection and the regulation of new nicotine products, participants from countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece are also highlighting the potential impact on farmers, the processing industry, small businesses and rural employment.