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Published: 09 November 2024

ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: EU SANT Committee - French Nicotine Pouch Ban - Irish Extortionate Vape Tax - UK Disposable Vape Ban - UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill Returns - Kids No Longer Smoke Cigarettes. Why Aren’t We Celebrating? - Science vs. dogma: the choice is now - EU Should Follow Swedish Example. Read on for more.

Read more: ETHRA October news roundup

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Published: 02 October 2024

ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: Smoke-Free Environments Recommendation - NNA Ireland expert letter - France to ban 'puffs' - Acvoda consumer survey - Health effects of snus in Sweden - Navigating Australia’s new pharmacy only vaping rules - Top 3 Methods to Quit Smoking - Country updates. Read on for more.

Contents:

EU NEWS

COUNTRY UPDATES

MUST READS

FINALLY

 

EU NEWS

EU Council Updated Recommendation on Smoke-Free Environments
On Tuesday 17 September the European Commission published the Council’s updated recommendation on smoke-free environments. We were very disappointed that the non-binding new initiative recommends including vape aerosol in smoke-free environment legislation and also extending the rule to include key outdoor areas. 

Read more here:
https://ethra.co/news/159-eu-council-updated-recommendation-on-smoke-free-environments

https://vaping360.com/vape-news/8236/european-commission-targets-vaping-in-new-smokefree-recommendations/

Consumers have their say on the updated recommendation:
https://filtermag.org/eu-ban-public-vaping/amp/

 

COUNTRY UPDATES    

Cyprus
The Cypriot Government is considering banning vapes due to concerns about youth vaping. 

Read more here:
https://cyprus-mail.com/2024/09/04/cyprus-considers-vaping-ban-to-address-teen-addiction-crisis/

 

Finland
A clinical study conducted at the Lapland Central Hospital and the University of Oulu, found that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes was as effective as Varenicline (Champix) in smoking cessation. 

Read more here:
Suomalaistutkimus: nikotiinilliset sähkösavukkeet tehokkaita tupakoinnin lopettamisessa / Finnish study: nicotine e-cigarettes are effective in stopping smoking

 

France
The EU Commission has granted France permission to proceed with plans to ban single use vapes. 

Read more here:
https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/eu-gives-go-ahead-for-france-to-ban-disposable-vapes/680835

 

Ireland
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, announced that he has received Government approval to draft legislation to further restrict vapes. Proposals include a ban on disposable vapes and a ban on vape flavours apart from tobacco. NNA Ireland sent a letter to the Minister, which was signed by internation experts in tobacco and nicotine science & policy, to caution against banning flavours.

See the letter here:
https://nnai510701598.wordpress.com/2024/10/02/letter-to-the-minister-for-health/

Read more on the proposals here:
https://we-vape.org/ireland-is-the-canary-in-the-vaping-coal-mine-for-uk-vapers/

 

Netherlands
ETHRA partner Acvoda published the results of its consumer survey into the effects of the Netherlands vape flavour ban and online sales ban.

Read more here:
Enquête onder Nederlandse dampers over de gevolgen van het online verkoop- en smaakverbod / Survey among Dutch vapers about the consequences of the online sales and flavour ban

 

Poland
A new paper has revealed that Polish citizens are misinformed about the relative risk of nicotine pouches compared to smoking.  38.5% know that nicotine pouches are less harmful than cigarettes, 17.5% thought pouches and smoking carried equal risk, and just less than a quarter of those surveyed thought pouches were more harmful than smoking. 

Read more here:
https://daily-pouch.com/polish-citizens-are-misinformed-about-nicotine-pouch-harm/

 

Spain
Health experts call on Spain to abandon its dogmatism and go for a science-based model for regulating safer nicotine products, as they do in the UK and Sweden. 

Read more here (Spanish):
https://prdtabaquismo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/NP_SCOHRE_2024_VF-002-Copiar.pdf

 

Sweden
The Swedish Government announced that in the future nicotine products will be regulated based on the risk they pose.

Read more here:
Skademinimering i fokus när regeringen ändrar tobakspolitiken / Harm reduction in focus when the government changes tobacco policy

Harm reduction gains ground in updated Swedish tobacco policy

 

UK
Data published by the UK Office for National Statistics shows adult smoking prevalence has fallen to 11.9%. The sharpest decline was among 18 - 24 year olds, falling from 25.7% in 2011 to 9.8% in 2023. 

Read more here:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2023

 

MUST READS

The health effects of snus in Sweden
A comparative study examined data on smoking related death between Sweden, where snus is widely available, and countries with virtually no snus use. The study suggests that around 3000 lives per year have been saved by the use of snus in Sweden.

Read more here:
https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-024-01095-7

 

Navigating Australia’s new pharmacy-only vaping rules – a guide for vapers
From 1 October 2024, some vaping devices and low dose e-liquid (up to 20 mg/mL nicotine) will be available in Australia without a prescription from brick-and-mortar pharmacies. Sale from online pharmacies is banned.

Read more here:
https://colinmendelsohn.com.au/pharmacy-3/

 

Top 3 Methods to Quit Smoking Published
A summary of all the Cochrane Reviews from 2021 to 2023 has been published in Addiction Journal and recommends vaping as one of its top 3 methods to quit smoking.

Read more here:
https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/news/vaping-news/2024-09-11_top-3-methods-to-quit-smoking-published.html

 

FINALLY

Something to watch:
Dr Sharon Cox, Principal Research Fellow in Behavioural Science at University College London, discussed the difference between tobacco smoking addiction and nicotine dependence. 

Details

Published: 25 September 2024

On Tuesday 17 September the European Commission published the Council’s updated recommendation on smoke-free environments. The update comes after a Call for Evidence Consultation, which was open to the public, and a Targeted Stakeholder Consultation which was invite only.  ETHRA participated in both consultations which you can read here.

Read more: EU Council Updated Recommendation on Smoke-Free Environments