An amendment to increase the size of warnings on cigarette packets has been approved by an EU committee.
The amendments concern the new EU Tobacco Directive, which will come into force before the end of 2001.
The Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Committee approved amendments to increase the size of general warnings, such as "Smoking Kills" on the front of cigarette packets.
They also voted to increase the size of additional warnings, such as "Half of All Smokers Die Younger" and "Smoking Causes Fatal Lung Cancer".
Another approved amendment said warning messages would be attached to vending machines. Cigarette manufacturers, said another amendment, would be obliged to provide member-states with a list of cigarette ingredients, which will also be made public.
The Leinster Fianna Fail MEP, Mr Jim Fitzsimons, who is a member of the committee, said he voted for larger public health warnings on cigarette packets.