ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: European Parliament adopts BECA report - Javed Khan wants to hear from you! - Consultation opens in Scotland - DG SANTE meet THR advocates - Survey findings published. Read on for more.
Contents:
European Parliament adopts BECA report
The report contains a number of positives which relate to tobacco harm reduction and safer nicotine products. The most positive are that it recognises that vaping products help smokers quit, and calls for a risk assessment which compares safer nicotine products to smoking.
Read more in our article here:
https://ethra.co/news/102-eu-recognises-tobacco-harm-reduction-with-the-adoption-of-the-beca-report
Health Programme Database
Over the next three years, the pan-European Joint Action on Tobacco Control 2 (JATC 2) project will develop strategies to ensure better tobacco control and reduce smoking across Europe. Important work packages that could impact the future regulation of safer nicotine products are being carried out by groups which are known to favour harsh restrictions.
- Health impacts and regulatory implications of safer nicotine products - RIVM (Netherlands)
- Smoke-free environments - ICO (Spain)
- Tobacco endgame strategy - THL (Finland)
Details of work packages, partners, and outputs are available here:
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/chafea_pdb/health/projects/101035968/workpackages
The advocates voice
These short videos inform safer nicotine consumers and the general public about health policy, law and consumer advocacy issues as they relate to tobacco harm reduction and safer nicotine products in Asia Pacific and beyond. Thank you to the THR regional network CAPHRA for putting these excellent videos together.
Watch the videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7v7svw88AE
France
Respiratory Health France (Santé Respiratoire France) has voiced its support for vaping as an aid to quit smoking. Last month we reported that the HCSP (Haut Conseil de la santé publique) had been heavily criticised for stating that doctors should not recommend vaping to smokers, so this is a welcome development.
Read more here:
https://sante-respiratoire.com/sevrage-tabagique-vape-ou-pas-vape/
Germany
An analysis of ETHRA’s Nicotine User’s survey, conducted by German consumer group Bundesverband Rauchfreie Alternative e.V., finds that an overwhelming majority of German vapers cite smoking cessation and harm reduction as the main reason for using vaping products, with flavours playing an important role.
Read more here:
https://bvra.info/allgemein/geschmacksvielfalt-ist-wichtig-fuer-e-zigaretten-nutzer/
See ETHRA’s survey here:
https://ethra.co/eu-survey
Ireland
Ireland’s health committee have been told that flavours are vital to the success of vaping as a smoking cessation aid, and that any move to ban flavours would be detrimental to public health.
Netherlands
A survey conducted by ETHRA partner Acvoda and trade association Esigbond finds that three quarters of Dutch vapers would still be smoking were it not for vaping products.
See the report here:
https://www.esigbond.nl/2022/01/30/three-quarters-of-dutch-e-cigarette-users-would-still-smoke-without-the-e-cigarette/
Northern Ireland
Vaping regulations in Northern Ireland have changed. From 1 February it’s illegal to buy e-cigarettes for – and for retailers to sell them to – anyone who is under 18.
Read more here:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/smoking-and-vaping-regulations-northern-ireland#toc-4
Scotland
A consultation has been launched to determine public views on the banning of vape advertising and promotions. This would make vaping products almost invisible to smokers. The consultation will run until 28 April.
New Nicotine Alliance has written a useful guide to responding to the consultation, you can read that here:
https://nnalliance.org/blog/363-respond-to-the-scottish-government-s-public-consultation-on-treating-vaping-the-same-as-smoking
Read more here:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/tightening-rules-advertising-promoting-vaping-products-consultation-paper-2022/pages/2/
Follow NNA’s guide to respond to the consultation, it is quick to do and it is important.
UK
Javed Khan OBE is leading an independent review into tobacco control, and he has asked vapers for their views on the role of safer nicotine products in smoking cessation.
Read more here:
https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/news/vaping-news/2022-02-22_government-launches-landmark-reviews.html
NNA recommendations would advance the UK Government’s 2030 smoke-free ambition, and its goal of reducing health inequalities:
https://nnalliance.org/blog/361-nna-recommendations-would-make-new-government-policy-announcements-more-achievabl
Consumer associations meet with DG SANTE
ETHRA and partners attended a virtual meeting, hosted by the European Commission’s DG SANTE, to discuss new tobacco and nicotine products in tobacco control policies. The meeting offered associations an opportunity to express their views on safer nicotine products, and give a 5 minute presentation to the Commission.
Read more about ETHRA’s participation:
https://ethra.co/news/101-ethra-attends-european-commission-meeting-on-new-tobacco-and-nicotine-products-in-tobacco-control-policies
Read Sovape’s excellent presentation to the Commission:
https://www.sovape.fr/sovape-face-a-la-commission-europeenne-sur-la-reduction-des-risques-contre-le-tabagisme/
E-cigarette risk perceptions – an American crime scene
A majority of Americans now incorrectly believe that vaping products are as harmful or more harmful than smoking, a direct result of misinformation campaigns by US public health bodies.
Read more here:
https://clivebates.com/e-cigarette-risk-perceptions-an-american-crime-scene/
Must watch:
Professor David Sweanor discusses smoking cessation policy.
Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAWmYQmmiQQ
Must listen:
Let’s talk e-cigarettes podcasts
A series of podcasts by University of Oxford researchers discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and tobacco harm reduction.
Listen to the podcasts here:
https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/lets-talk-e-cigarettes