ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: Threat to ban flavours in Ireland - ETHRA & partners submit to EU call for evidence - WHO announce knowledge hub in France - The Half-Truth Initiative - The consequences of regressive vape policy - Master list of junk vaping studies - Country updates. Read on for more.
Contents:
Smoke-free environments – updated recommendation
From 22 June - 20 July the European Commission conducted a call for evidence consultation with the aim of updating the European Council’s 2009 Recommendation on smoke-free environments to include safer nicotine products in its scope. The consultation received 207 responses in total with THR advocates and associations being well represented.
Read ETHRA’s submission:
https://ethra.co/submissions/113-smoke-free-environments-updated-recommendation
Read submissions from ETHRA partners: ACPAN, Aiduce, Anesvap, BVRA, IG-ED, NNA Ireland, NNA UK, SOVAPE
Read INNCO’s submission:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13333-Smoke-free-environments-updated-recommendation/F3325711_en
EU consultations - your voice counts
An overwhelming majority of EU citizens who submitted to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the legislative framework for tobacco control were in favour of tobacco harm reduction. The consultation received a record number of responses (over 24,000), 90% of which came from the general public. The people have spoken and the Commission must pay attention.
The Advocates Voice
The advocate's voice returns to discuss how best to communicate our message and make it resonate with the people who need to hear it.
Belgium
The Belgian Superior Health Council has acknowledged that vaping is less harmful than smoking and recommends that smokers switch to vaping.
Read more here:
https://www.thebulletin.be/smoke-how-belgium-regulates-e-cigarettes-and-alternative-tobacco-products
France
Since 2014, the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC has coordinated the establishment of eight Knowledge Hubs in different regions of the world to support Parties in addressing different tobacco control issues. France now has the first WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub on education, communication, training and public awareness, areas addressed in Article 12 of the WHO FCTC.
Will this knowledge hub in France communicate truthfully on tobacco harm reduction?
Germany
The BVRA have created an overview of what will change for vape consumers as a result of the new tobacco tax. In particular, the issue of taxes on private stocks.
Read more here:
https://bvra.info/aktuell/steuerentstehung-bei-bunkerware/
The consumer association put themselves forward as an important stakeholder in the discussion around safer nicotine products, and held a productive meeting with the Office of the Federal Drug Commissioner.
Read more here:
https://bvra.info/aktuell/austausch-mit-dem-buero-des-bundesdrogenbeauftragten/
Hungary
Excessive regulation of vaping products, including a flavour ban which took effect in May 2021, has led to a flourishing black market. A recent announcement by the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) and the Regulatory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH) stated that over €300,000 worth of disposable pod systems were seized in just a few weeks.
Read more here
https://www.helloecig.com/elf-bar-is-officially-illegal-in-hungary/
Ireland
On 15 July, Ireland’s Joint Committee on Health made a range of recommendations to the Department and Minister for health regarding its upcoming ‘Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill.’ One of the recommendations is a ban on all flavours apart from tobacco. The New Nicotine Alliance Ireland wrote to members of the Committee and the Department & Minister for Health to highlight the huge negative consequences such a measure would have. They included a letter which was signed by global leaders in tobacco & nicotine science and policy.
Read the press release and expert letter here:
https://nnai510701598.wordpress.com/2022/07/17/joint-committee-on-health-report-on-the-public-health-tobacco-and-nicotine-inhaling-products-bill/
Dr Garrett McGovern, NNA Ireland trustee, asks why are we waging a war on e-cigarettes when they help smokers quit?
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/vaping-legislation-5820156-Jul2022/
Read the Committee’s press release and report:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/press-centre/press-releases/20220715-joint-committee-on-health-publishes-its-report-on-pre-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-public-health-tobacco-and-nicotine-inhaling-products-bill-2019/
Netherlands
The State Secretary has said that he will not revise the vape flavour ban even if it leads to an increase in smoking.
Read more here:
https://www.esigbond.nl/2022/07/16/staatssecretaris-vws-smaakverbod-e-sigaret-niet-aanpassen-als-aantal-rokers-stijgt/
Scotland
A survey conducted on behalf of the Scottish Grocers' Federation found that almost half of the 2000 participants believed that the Government should encourage smokers to switch to vaping.
Read more here:
https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/scots-smokers-should-encouraged-switch-7374304
Sweden
Rumours about flavour bans, unclear guidance around new licensing requirements, and incorrect information from authorities has led many, including business owners, to believe that e-cigarettes have become illegal.
Read more here:
https://www.vejpkollen.se/2022/07/manga-tror-att-e-cigg-blivit-olagliga/
Changes to the retail licencing system may mean that thousands of businesses can no longer sell vaping products:
https://www.vejpkollen.se/2022/07/tusentals-foretag-utan-tillstand-att-salja-e-cigg-nu-backar-kemikalieinspektionen/
UK
Clive Bates provides an in depth critique of the recommendations in the recently published Khan review into tobacco control.
Read more here:
https://clivebates.com/independent-review-of-tobacco-policy-in-england-misses-the-point/
The Half-Truth Initiative
Marc Gunther does a deep dive into the Truth Initiative and how the lavishly funded anti-smoking group has lost its way.
“They have spun and ignored the science to cherry pick only information and data that supports the ideology of prohibition”
Read more here:
https://filtermag.org/truth-initiative/
Critique of the Banks review
A study commissioned by the Australian Department of Health has come under fire from four leading Australian academics who say:
“The review from the Australian National University omitted important information, made critical scientific flaws and did not achieve its objective of providing an accurate analysis of the available scientific information. It is flawed and misleading”
Read more here:
http://colinmendelsohn.com.au/banks/
The Impact of an Information Shock on Vaping and Smoking Cessation
As with excessive taxation and flavours ban, misinformation about vaping can also have dire consequences. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates that misinformation around EVALI decreased the use of vaping for smoking cessation by as much as 30%.
Read more here:
https://www.nber.org/papers/w30255
The unintended consequences of vape taxes
It will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with tobacco harm reduction that taxation can affect consumer choice when purchasing products. A new study found that higher taxation of vaping products will likely increase cigarette sales.
Read more here:
https://news.yale.edu/2022/07/19/higher-taxes-e-cigs-likely-boost-cigarette-smoking-among-young-adults
Lousy Vaping Studies
The American Council on Science and Health has prepared a master list of junk vaping studies, complete with rebuttals.
Read more here:
https://www.acsh.org/news/2022/07/19/lousy-vaping-studies-master-list-junk-science-updated-july-19-2022-16142
Something to watch:
The Swift Half with Snowdon ft. Clive Bates
An enthralling discussion about barriers to e-cigarette use, the attitude of the WHO and much more!
