ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: Consumer Requirement for COP10 - COPWatch - France & Italy calls to action - Netherlands pouch prohibition - ETHRA response to Norwegian flavour ban proposal - Public Health Partner announcement - Paper Addresses Harm Reduction of Pouches. Read on for more.
Contents:
EU TPD Consultation
The authors of a significant report, aimed at reducing the number of deaths caused by smoking, are urging the European Commission to incorporate Sweden's effective strategies in their upcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive.
Read more here:
https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/news/vaping-news/2023-04-28_eu-tpd-consultation.html
EU bans disposables?
It has been reported that new EU laws on battery regulation could mean an effective ban on disposable vapes.
Read more here:
https://www.tobaccojournal.com/news/eu-bans-disposables/
Consumer Requirement for COP10
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is calling for consumer representation in the delegations attending the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Conference of Parties (COP10).
Read more here:
https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/news/vaping-news/2023-04-18_consumer-requirement-for-cop10.html
FCTC COP
COP10 is fast approaching, where pivotal decisions on the future of vaping and tobacco harm reduction could be made. COPWatch have written a series of articles to inform people about what is known, and indeed unknown, about the build up to COP10.
Where’s Bloomby? Check the atlas
Who is the new WHO French guy?
The WHO meetings that never are or were
Czechia
The principle of harm reduction will serve as the foundation for the Czech Republic's tobacco and alcohol policy on the international stage, with a focus on promoting harm reduction strategies within the EU.
Read more here:
Česko má nový plán boje se závislostmi. U tabáku jde s dobou víc než Brusel / The Czech Republic has a new plan to fight addiction.
France
ETHRA partners Aiduce and Sovape have joined with LaVapeDuCoeur and SOS Addictions to publish a document highlighting the threats to vaping at the upcoming WHO FCTC COP10, and what consumers can do about it.
Read more here:
OMS : menaces sur le vapotage / WHO: threats to vaping
L’OMS contre-attaque : menaces sur le vapotage
Ireland
New laws are expected to be in place by mid-July which will finally introduce an age restriction for the sale of vaping products.
Italy
ETHRA partner ANPVU have launched a call to action against the threats to vaping posed by the WHO.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has ramped up its war on safer nicotine products and tobacco harm reduction by announcing a complete ban on nicotine pouches.
Read more here:
https://snusforumet.se/en/dutch-move-ahead-with-nicotine-pouch-ban/
Norway
Norway’s TRIS notification on amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, which would introduce plain packaging and a flavour ban for all e-liquids, closed on Monday 1 May. You can read our response on TRIS, here.
Also see our submission on the ETHRA website:
https://ethra.co/submissions/131-norway-tris-notification-amendments-to-the-tobacco-control-act-and-the-labelling-regulations
See our article for some background information:
https://ethra.co/news/126-nonsense-in-norway
Sweden
A new survey has found that health concerns were the primary motivator for ex-smokers to switch to safer nicotine products. It also found that the availability of a wide range of flavours and ability to choose the most suitable nicotine level are vital factors in switching to a safer nicotine product.
UK
The UK Government has launched a new program aimed at significantly reducing smoking rates. Named 'Swap to Stop,' the program is being hailed as a world-first and will provide free vaping starter kits and dedicated behavioural support to one million current smokers in the UK.
Read more here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smokers-urged-to-swap-cigarettes-for-vapes-in-world-first-scheme
New Public Health Partner
We are delighted to announce that Dr Garrett McGovern has joined ETHRA as our second Public Health Partner. Dr McGovern has worked as a GP specialising in the treatment of substance misuse, and is Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic, a private addiction treatment programme located in South County Dublin. He is currently a trustee with the New Nicotine Alliance Ireland.
Read more here:
https://ethra.co/partners/public-health-partners
Paper Addresses Harm Reduction of Pouches
A new briefing paper on nicotine pouches has been published. It provides an overview of the latest scientific evidence, regulatory landscape and harm reduction potential for this relatively new safer nicotine product.
Read more here:
https://tobaccoreporter.com/2023/03/31/gsthr-briefing-paper-addresses-tobacco-harm-reduction-potential-of-nicotine-pouches/
Read the briefing paper here:
https://gsthr.org/briefing-papers/what-are-nicotine-pouches/
One of the worst ever tobacco control papers is ‘corrected’
Authors of a paper which made serious allegations of misconduct toward Juul went ahead and published it despite the company getting in touch and pointing out the [obvious] errors. Clive Bates takes a detailed look at the case.
Read more here:
https://clivebates.com/one-of-the-worst-ever-tobacco-control-papers-is-corrected/
How should Australia regulate nicotine vaping products? – new research
A new paper co-authored by Dr Colin Mendelsohn examines Australia’s disastrous prescription only model for vaping products, and ways to tackle the huge black market it has created.
Read more here:
https://colinmendelsohn.com.au/regulation/
Something to watch:
Swap To Stop
Louise Ross, Chair of NNA UK, joins Regwatch to discuss the UK’s ‘Swap to Stop’ program.
