ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: Pouch ban threat & consultation - Biblioteca RDT - TED Delay - Growing evidence that THR works - Experts call to correct misinformation - The Bullshit Asymmetry Principle - 2023 vape predictions - Country updates. Read on for more.
Contents:
Tax Directive delay
The European Commission’s proposal for revision of the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) was not published on 7th December, as previously expected. It is now anticipated for the early months of 2023, though nothing has been officially confirmed.
Read more here (PAYWALL):
https://tobaccointelligence.com/regulatory-alerts/tobacco-excise-directive-proposal-delayed/
In our November news round up we had reported on the controversy surrounding leaked documents for the TED proposal. For more analysis of that read this:
https://www.eureporter.co/health/2022/12/13/eu-should-look-at-how-sweden-achieved-the-lowest-smoking-rate-in-europe/
Biblioteca RDT
A fantastic new resource has been launched by Vaporaqui. The project is called "THR Library" and includes scientific research, organised by categories, and translated to Brazilian Portuguese. It currently has 65 publications with more to come.
Check out the library here:
https://www.vaporaqui.net/biblioteca/
France
A new study, based on Eurobarometer data, has added to the evidence base that vaping is more effective for smoking cessation than traditional NRTs and abstinence only.
Read more here:
https://fr.vapingpost.com/la-cigarette-electronique-plus-efficace-que-le-reste-pour-arreter-de-fumer/
Germany
ETHRA partner the BVRA report on the 20th German Conference on Tobacco Control. Despite spiralling smoking rates there is strong resistance in Germany to implementing science based tobacco harm reduction strategies.
Read more here:
https://bvra.info/aktuell/tabakkontrolle-muss-verbessert-werden/
Ireland
The latest survey from Healthy Ireland has been published, showing that the smoking rate has risen from 17% in 2019 to 18%. This comes alongside a decline in the vaping rate to 3% in this year’s results from a recorded 5% in 2019
Read more here:
https://nnai510701598.wordpress.com/2022/12/06/latest-figures-from-healthy-ireland-on-smoking-and-vaping/
Netherlands
The Dutch government has launched a consultation on legislation to ban nicotine pouches. The consultation ends on 16 January. The European Commission has already signalled that it would like an EU wide ban on nicotine pouches. If individual member states, such as the Netherlands, ban pouches, an EU wide ban becomes far more likely. ETHRA will be submitting to this consultation and we urge you to do the same.
Read more in our guide to responding to the consultation here:
https://ethra.co/news/121-dutch-danger
Sweden
Swedish authorities confirmed that smoking rates have fallen to 5.6%. This makes Sweden the only European country close to reaching its smoke-free target of less than 5% smoking prevalence.
Read more here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221205005671/en/
UK
Good news from the UK as new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that smoking prevalence has fallen to 13.3%, a historic low. According to the ONS, vaping has played a major role in the decline in smoking.
NNA UK give their thoughts on the report:
https://nnalliance.org/blog/381-vaping-s-major-role-in-the-uk-s-record-low-smoking-rate-shows-that-harm-reduction-works
Read the report here:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2021
Le bilan 2022 des experts de la vape
We were honoured to feature in the Vaping Post’s 2022, and give our thoughts on what 2023 may hold for vaping and tobacco harm reduction.
Read on for more:
https://fr.vapingpost.com/le-bilan-2022-des-experts-de-la-vape/
Call to correct misinformation
Leading tobacco control researchers urge U.S. public health authorities to correct vaping misinformation, particularly around the non vaping related outbreak (misnamed EVALI) and the baseless ‘gateway’ hypothesis.
Read more here:
https://filtermag.org/vape-misinformation-surgeon-general/
Read the paper:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16097
The Bullshit Asymmetry Principle
The idea that e-cigarette flavours hook kids is simple, compelling—and false.
Read more here:
https://tobaccoreporter.com/2022/12/01/the-bullshit-asymmetry-principle/
E-Cigarette Summit 2022: Round Up
James Dunworth provides an excellent summary of the 10th E-Cigarette Summit, which brought together global experts to discuss the latest science and evidence on tobacco harm reduction in London this month.
Read more here:
https://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2022/12/ecigarette-summit-2022-summary.html
2023 Vape Predictions
What will 2023 hold for vaping and tobacco harm reduction? Experts from around the world give their predictions.
Read on for more
https://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2022/12/vape-predictions-2023.html
Something to watch:
The EU’s political snus ban
Bengt Wiberg, founder of ETHRA partner EUforSnus, appeared on national TV to speak about the EU's tax proposals for safer nicotine products, the Swedish experience with snus and the importance of tobacco harm reduction.
