Health commissioner resigns after fraud investigation

John Dalli resigned yesterday from his post as European commissioner for health and consumer policy, following an investigation by the EU’s antifraud office, Olaf, which linked him to an attempt to sway tobacco legislation.

The investigation was started after the Swedish tobacco company Swedish Match claimed that a Maltese entrepreneur had tried to exploit his contacts with Dalli, also from Malta, for payment from the company. In exchange, the entrepreneur would have attempted to influence the EU’s proposed ban on exports of snus, a form of tobacco that is placed under the lip and is manufactured by Swedish Match.