Jacques Le Houezec: We’ll do our best to have vaping recognized by authorities

Vaping Post: What do you retain from the year 2016?

Jacques Le Houezec: The year 2016 has been the year of the transposition of the EU TPD in which vaping products have been wrongfully assimilated to tobacco products, an aberration since those products are a mean to quit smoking. Vaping products are neither tobacco nor medicine products and must remain consumer products. Last year also saw the first Paris Vape Summit. For the first time all stakeholders were present to open the debate. A major success of this event was a common position with regard to vaping and the creation of a working group on vaping at the General Directorate for Health.

 

Vaping Post: What are your expectations for 2017?

Jacques Le Houezec: The first vaping summit gave birth to SOVAPE, an association to support vaping as a harm reduction tool. Our actions, in 2016, initiated a constructive dialog with officials. Even if the results are not yet tangible, we will do our best to have vaping recognized by authorities in 2017. It is essential to communicate with clarity and honesty to reassure smokers and to encourage those who want to quit smoking to turn to vaping. It is a priority public health issue.