Harm reduction

The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) is urging the Swedish government to protect its consumer-friendly approach to snus, vaping, and nicotine pouches in the face of opposition from the EU and WHO.

Jessica Polfjärd and Jörgen Warnborn, Members of the European Parliament, publicly express their concerns about the ongoing public consultation on revising the legislative framework for tobacco control.

The European Commission is currently holding the second public consultation on the revision of the tobacco control legislation. Unfortunately, the questions and reply options are strongly biased towards prohibiting reduced-risk products.

The Czech Republic is considering extending its legislation on tobacco products and e-cigarettes to include nicotine pouches. All friends of nicotine pouches should welcome the Czech initiative.

The Belgium government is proceeding with its intentions to ban nicotine pouches, prompting questions as to why the country doesn’t allow for safer nicotine products to play a bigger role in the work towards a smoke-free generation. 

Last year, the Brussels Times and the Environment and Public Health Institute – EPHI, organised a seminar on new tobacco-free nicotine products and the upcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which regulates tobacco and nicotine products in all EU Member States. The seminar was held in the European Parliament.

The Dutch government is proposing a ban on the sale of nicotine pouches. While nicotine pouches should be regulated, a complete ban is misguided and could cause harm since it would remove a risk-reduced nicotine alternative from the market.

Are you ready for a hefty tax increase on your favourite nicotine pouches? It’s on the cards, as the European Commission is considering revising the EU’s tobacco excise directive and implementing a minimum level of taxation across the EU for these products.

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, BfR, released a health assessment on nicotine pouches today. Among other things, it deals with harm reduction, Sweden’s low smoking rate, and the nicotine strength of nicotine pouches.

The Guardian reports that a record 4.3 million people are vape users in the UK. The figures come from new research by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). The cousin to the nicotine pouch is more popular than ever, and most vape users are former smokers. That’s positive, but there are concerns about young people’s use of the products.