ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: EU COP11 position - Tobacco Excise Directive public consultation - Danish nicotine endgame? - ETHRA at SCOHRE Summit - EU Cardiovascular Health Plan submission - The war on nicotine will fail but could kill millions - Barriers to THR - Country updates. Read on for more.
Contents:
EU crackdown on safer nicotine products
Reports have suggested that the European Commission is working on a comprehensive regulatory framework that will form the EU’s official position at COP11. Measures being considered include a full ban on nicotine pouches, flavour bans, and a ban on comparative claims in risk between smoked and non-smoked products.
Tobacco Excise Directive consultation
A public consultation on the revised TED is open for comments until 31 October. For the first time safer nicotine products have been included in the Directive, and if approved by all 27 member states, would impose a tax of up to 50% on low-risk alternatives to smoking.
Add your comments here:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12645-Tobacco-taxation-excise-duties-for-manufactured-tobacco-products-updated-rules-_en
The Commission will be invited to present its recent proposal to update the rules regarding the structure and minimum rates of excise duty applied to tobacco products on October 10th.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/ecofin/2025/10/10/
The Swedish government has once again voiced its opposition to proposals in the revised TED, saying that it is unacceptable to require at EU level that nicotine pouches be taxed at the same level as certain smoking tobacco.
Read more here:
https://www.regeringen.se/contentassets/a239e5c666594ee497cb55a40935eda2/kommenterad-dagordning-ekofinradets-mote-den-10-oktober-2025.pdf
Belgium
Belgium will ban smoking and vaping on public terraces and scrap smoking rooms in bars, airports, and shisha lounges from January 1, 2027, after the federal government approved the measure on September 12.
Read more here:
https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/09/14/belgium-banning-smoking-and-vaping-on-terraces-from-january-2027/
Denmark
Nine organisations have published a joint statement calling for the sale of ALL nicotine products to be phased out over the next 10 years.
Read more here:
https://www.altinget.dk/sundhed/artikel/ni-organisationer-i-opraab-i-2035-skal-det-vaere-slut-med-salg-af-tobak
France
France is enacting a ban on the sale, consumption and personal possession of nicotine pouches, with the prohibition set to take effect on 1 April 2026.
Read more here:
https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18450
Ireland
The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has signed the commencement order to enact the E-liquid Product Tax. The tax will add 50c per ml to all e-liquids regardless of nicotine content and will come into force on 1 November.
Read more here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/press-releases/minister-donohoe-signs-commencement-order-for-the-e-liquid-products-tax/
Sweden
Swedish Foreign Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa has sent a letter to France and Spain with the aim of stopping upcoming bans on nicotine pouches.
See more here:
https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/politik/benjamin-dousa-rasar-mot-frankrikes-snusforbud-sista-forsoket/
ETHRA submission to the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan Call for Evidence
Our submission is focused on the cardiovascular (CVD) risks arising from smoking and the potential positive role of nicotine-containing smoke-free alternatives to smoking.
See the submission here:
https://ethra.co/submissions/176-eu-cardiovascular-health-plan-call-for-evidence
The war on nicotine will fail but could kill millions
Clive Bates discusses why the change in focus from reducing the burden on health from smoking to eradicating nicotine use is doomed to fail and will be a disaster for public health.
Read more here:
https://clivebates.com/the-war-on-nicotine-will-fail-but-could-kill-millions/
The opposition to tackling cigarette smoking
Must read commentary by David Sweanor on the barriers to quitting smoking using safer nicotine products.
Read the commentary here:
https://skipscorner.substack.com/p/the-opposition-to-tackling-cigarette
Vape flavour bans increase smoking
A study in Health Economics reveals that comprehensive state bans on flavored vapes may reduce vaping among young adults, but they can also lead to increased use of traditional cigarettes.
Read more here:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-state-flavored-cigarettes-inadvertently-traditional.html
Something to watch:
ETHRA partner Damian Sweeney took part in a panel discussion at the 8th Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction on the topic of “Consumer and healthcare professionals’ misconceptions on the harms of nicotine”
Read the press release from the Summit: Harm Reduction Must Become a Pillar of Public Health: Key Outcomes from the 8th Summit on THR
https://www.nosmokesummit.org/2025/10/02/press-release-harm-reduction-must-become-a-pillar-of-public-health-key-outcomes-from-the-8th-summit-on-thr/