Euro MPs will vote shortly on new measures aimed at putting young people off smoking, including bigger health warnings on cigarette packets and restrictions on electronic cigarettes.

Under the draft legislation from the European Commission e-cigarettes would become a medicinal product.

Menthol cigarettes could be banned, along with other flavoured tobacco.

Packs of 10 as well as slim cigarettes - marketed mainly to women - would no longer be sold.

Proposals to regulate e-cigarettes are part of new tobacco measures being considered

Smaller packs are reckoned to be more attractive to young smokers.

It is the European Parliament's first reading of a draft tobacco directive which could become law in 2014. There has been intense lobbying of MEPs by the tobacco industry and health campaigners.

The proposals also include a ban on words like "light", "mild" and "low tar", deemed to be misleading, and a ban on chewing tobacco - called snus - although Sweden would retain its exemption.

Once agreed, all 28 EU countries will have to make the measures law.

After Tuesday's vote there will be further negotiations with the Council - the grouping of relevant EU ministers. MEPs may manage to avoid a second vote and fast-track the legislation so that it is adopted before the May 2014 European elections.

(Source: BBC)