European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates

Details: Published: 04 June 2025

EU tax measures should encourage switch from smoking to safer alternatives for public health

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.

Europe’s smoking rate remains very high, with 24% of the overall adult population continuing to use combustible tobacco. The European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA), a consortium of 24 grassroots associations across 17 European countries, represents 27 million European consumers who use nicotine pouches, vapes, snus and heated tobacco products as safer alternatives to combustible tobacco.

Details: Published: 23 May 2025

On Tuesday 13 May the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) held an exchange of views with the new EU Commissioner responsible for health and animal welfare. During this meeting the Commissioner repeated the misinformation that vaping causes 'popcorn lung'. ETHRA wrote to the Commissioner to correct this misinformation and to request a meeting. Our letter is copied below.

Details: Published: 05 May 2025

April25 breaking news

ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: ETHRA letter to the EU Commission - SANT exchange of views - Further bans planned - Mindset Shift Needed - EU Member States to block Spanish proposals - Risk-proportionate regulation required - TPA webinar - Country updates. Read on for more.

European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates

Scientific and public health experts support consumer position on tobacco taxation

Letter to Health Commissioner Varhelyi regarding vapes and 'popcorn lung'

ETHRA April news roundup

Letter to the EU Commission regarding the Tobacco Excise Directive