THE EUROPEAN UNION BANS FLAVORED HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS
The ban was proposed in response to a reported 10% increase in sales volumes of heated tobacco products in several EU countries. It covers all flavors except tobacco and repeals the right of Member States to exempt heated tobacco products from the need to wear health warnings.
While the directive officially came into force on November 23, EU member states have until July 23, 2023 to transpose it into their national legislation, and the ban itself will apply from October 23, 2023.
Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) advocates across the EU oppose the ban amid studies demonstrating the products' effectiveness as smoking cessation aids. "By phasing out flavored heated tobacco, we are taking another step towards realizing our vision under Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to create a 'tobacco-free generation', where less than 5% of the population will be consuming tobacco by 2040," said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, known for her anti-THR stance.
Another inappropriate EU ban
In early 2022, Swedish MEP Sara Skyttedal had officially tabled parliamentary questions on snus to the European Commissioner (EC) for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides. The questions came ahead of the release of the EU's Beating Cancer Plan in February 2022, which many experts have argued is omitting very important harm reduction strategies, such as incorporating safer tobacco alternatives.
"The fact that the Commission nevertheless persists in the view that snus causes cancer is both surprising and, to be honest, quite remarkable," said Skyttedal, as quoted by Snusforumet at the time. Snus is a moist tobacco powder product that is placed under the upper lip for an extended period of time. It is particularly popular in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, where it is considered an effective harm reduction product.
In fact, as the MEP rightly pointed out, snus has not only resulted in Sweden having the lowest smoking rates in Europe, but has also reduced tobacco-related deaths in Sweden by half the EU average, despite overall tobacco consumption being at EU levels remains average. "If the Tobacco Products Directive is to be revised to take account of the fight against cancer, does the Commission agree that the EU needs to change how it regulates snus?" asked Skyttedal Commissioner Kyriakides.
Another wrong attitude
Unfortunately, in response to the MEP's arguments, Commissioner Kyriakides said that the European Commission's stance remains unchanged as snus and other oral tobacco products have been linked to cancer and other adverse health effects. "It is undisputed that oral tobacco is addictive and has adverse health effects, including cancer." Kyriakides further cited a 2008 report by the EU's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, which she said "did the negative Effects of snus on health confirmedโ.
The Commissioner's reply drew a strong reaction from Skyttedal, who pointed out that most studies related to snus found little or no links to cancer, and then cited the Lancet's Global Burden of Diseases and a study published in the Scandinavian Journal 2020 of Public Health, both of which conclude that there is no evidence of a link between snus and cancer.
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