ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: International public health experts warn about high nicotine taxation - PQ on pouches - French standards for pouches - Vapers Finland comment on tax - Why is Harm Reduction such a Hard Sell? - The EU’s War on Harm Reduction - Country updates. Read on for more.
Contents:
Scientific and public health experts support consumer position on tobacco taxation
People who have quit smoking by switching to safer nicotine products, scientists and public health experts are calling on the EU Commission to take a risk-proportionate approach to tobacco and nicotine taxes in support of public health.
Read our letter, co-signed by independent experts:
https://ethra.co/news/171-scientific-and-public-health-experts-support-consumer-position-on-tobacco-taxation
Tobacco Excise Directive Impact Assessment
The cost of quitting smoking and remaining smoke free could potentially become a lot more expensive, according to a leaked Impact Assessment Report on the revision of the Tobacco Excise Directive. The Directive sets minimum rates of excise duty which will be applied to tobacco and tobacco-related products.
Read more here:
https://ethra.co/news/174-tobacco-excise-directive-impact-assessment
The Directive and supporting documents are published here:
https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/taxation/excise-taxes/excise-duties-tobacco/revision-tobacco-taxation-directive-proposal_en
Member states express their concern about the TED proposals:
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2025-08-16/portugal-and-the-eu-on-a-collision-course/600338
Parliamentary Question on nicotine pouches
Finnish MEP Katri Kulmuni (Renew) asks if pouches will be included in the next TPD and if there will be restrictions on flavours and cross-border sales
See the question here:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-002286_EN.html
In his response Health Commissioner Mr Várhelyi repeats the anti-THR trope that there are no safe levels of nicotine use and, once again, suggests that safer nicotine products carry the same risk as cigarettes. Várhelyi states that the ongoing evaluation of EU legislative framework for tobacco control will determine whether or not pouches will be included.
See the reply here:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-002286-ASW_EN.html
Belgium
Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke is continuing his campaign against vaping. After banning disposable vapes, he intends to present a Bill in October which would ban vape flavors.
Read more here:
https://www.virgule.lu/international/la-mort-annoncee-du-business-de-l-e-cigarette-en-belgique/85530077.html
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s National Assembly has approved a nationwide ban on the sale of disposable vapes. The ban will apply to nicotine-containing and non-nicotine-containing disposables.
Read more here:
https://www.novinite.com/articles/232981/Bulgaria+Bans+Sale+of+Disposable+Vapes+in+Nationwide+Crackdown
Czechia
The Czech Health Ministry has unveiled draft regulations that would tighten restrictions on vapes, particularly those that feature images of animals, toys or candy, and cartoon characters that are appealing to children.
Read more here:
https://www.generationsanstabac.org/en/actualites/le-ministere-tcheque-de-la-sante-propose-des-regles-plus-strictes-pour-la-vente-de-cigarettes/
Finland
Vapers Finland comment on Government proposals to increase the excise duty on e-cigarette liquids and nicotine pouches by an average of 37 percent.
Read more here:
https://vapers.fi/2025/08/lausunto-hallituksen-lakiluonnoksesta-tupakkaverolain-ja-valmisteverolain-72%c2%a7n-muuttamisesta/
France
56 parliamentarians from 15 political groups have co-signed a letter to President François Bayrou requesting that the ban on nicotine pouches be overturned.
Read more here:
https://www.lejdd.fr/politique/pourquoi-des-elus-sopposent-a-linterdiction-des-sachets-de-nicotine-159264
More from France
The French Standardization Association (AFNOR) introduced manufacturing standards for nicotine pouches, including a nicotine limit of 16.6mg per pouch.
Read more here:
https://www.2firsts.com/news/france-introduces-standard-for-nicotine-pouches-sets-strict-requirements
Greece
A Bill has passed a vote in parliament which will introduce a nicotine cap for pouches at 16.6mg per pouch. The limit is based on a recommendation from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
See the Bill here:
https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=783747
Norway
Senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Dr Karl Lund, warns that harsh restriction or bans on vaping products risks losing control of the legal market, reduced consumer safety, and will lead to illegal sales and the loss of tax revenue.
Read more here:
https://tidsskriftet.no/2025/06/debatt/e-sigaretter-er-allerede-strengt-regulert
Spain
The Spanish government has refused to revise its draft law which would effectively ban nicotine pouches despite objections from 7 EU member states.
Read more here:
https://www.libertaddigital.com/libremercado/2025-08-27/mi-espana-ante-un-nuevo-frente-en-bruselas-por-la-guerra-de-monica-garcia-a-las-bolsas-de-nicotina-7288902/
International public health experts warn about high nicotine taxation
83 leading public health experts express significant concerns about the European Commission's review of the Tobacco Excise Directive. They argue that taxing smoke-free alternatives in the same way as combustible cigarettes is a move that contradicts scientific evidence, undermines public health efforts, and protects the deadly cigarette trade.
Read more here:
https://www.eureporter.co/health/tobacco-2/2025/09/01/international-public-health-experts-warn-about-high-nicotine-taxation/
Why is Harm Reduction such a Hard Sell?
This 3 part series from David Zaruk looks at the challenges for harm-reduction advocates to get the interest of the patient heard over the puritan dogmatic ideologies of the supposed health leaders.
Part 1: Why is Harm Reduction such a Hard Sell?
Part 2: Why Have Health Leaders Rejected Vaping?
Part 3: The WHO's Attack on Reduced Harm
The EU’s War on Harm Reduction
Instead of confronting smoking head-on, the EU and WHO are declaring war on harm reduction, and in doing so, giving cigarettes a lifeline.
Read more here:
https://tobaccoharmreduction.net/article/war-on-harm-reduction-a-public-health-calamity/
Something to watch:
University of East Anglia Addiction Research have produced a series of video shorts from leading experts which counter many of the myths people believe about vaping. Click play all to view the collection.