In response to the announcement Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, highlighted that this is another misguided attack against tobacco harm reduction. “It is shocking that the EU Commission still fights tobacco harm reduction. We need as many options as possible to achieve the Commission’s own 5% tobacco use target. Vaping, nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products all help people quit smoking and are less harmful.”
Landl added that the commission sadly keeps ignoring the science in favour of vaping. “The Commission systematically ignores the wealth of scientific evidence pointing to the benefits, not to mention the first-hand experience of millions of vapers. The Commission’s negative approach to harm reduction will do nothing but boost the black market and push people back to smoking.”
“Instead of recommending smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives, Commissioner Kyriakides refuses to listen to science, experts, and consumers. This plan shows that the EU Commission intends to further crack down on harm reduction while accepting all the negative consequences.”
The EC rejects all forms of safer nicotine alternatives
Sadly Kyriakides has become renowned for her outdates stance in relation to safer nicotine alternatives. Last January, Swedish MEP Sara Skyttedal formally submitted parliamentary questions concerning snus to the European Commissioner (EC) for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides. The questions came ahead of the February release of the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan, which many experts have argued is leaving out very crucial harm reduction strategies, such as the incorporation of safer tobacco alternatives.
“The fact that the Commission nevertheless persists in the view that snus causes cancer is both surprising and, to be honest, quite remarkable,” said Skyttedal as quoted by Snusforumet, at the time. Snus is a moist powder tobacco product that is placed under the upper lip for extended periods. It is mostly popular in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, but is only legal in Sweden, where it is considered an effective harm reduction product.
The EC Commissioner keeps spreading misinformation about vapes
In response to the MEP’s arguments, sadly the Commissioner Kyriakides said that the EC’s stance remains unchanged as snus and other oral tobacco products have been linked to cancer and other adverse health effects. “It is undisputed that tobacco for oral use is addictive and has adverse health effects, including cancers.” Kyriakides went on to cite a 2008 report from the EU’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risk which she says “confirmed the negative health effects of snus”.
The Commissioner’s response prompted a strong reaction from Skyttedal, who pointed out that actually most studies related to snus found little or no links to cancer, and went on to cite the Lancet’s Global Burden of Diseases as well as a 2020 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, both of which conclude there is no evidence to suggest a link between snus and cancer.
EU Vape Industry Welcomes Decision to Embrace Tobacco Harm Reduction
