"That vaping kills, is a false and dangerous myth" EU-experts warn

As the European Commission prepares a new tax framework for nicotine products, there are calls for policy decisions to be based on science. User network ETHRA is now questioning the picture of vapes and other smokeless nicotine products that is being painted in Brussels - and warning that standardising taxation could hit successful tobacco strategies in countries like Sweden hard.

"Smoking kills, vaping kills" 
That was the message when the EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Taxation Wopke Hoekstra shared his views on new nicotine products before a European Commission tax committee earlier this year. The statement has raised concerns among consumers who are now warning that gross misinformation about the health risks of vaping is spreading among senior decision-makers in Brussels.

Consumer network: EU must follow the science

"The notion that the use of e-cigarettes and other smokeless products is as harmful as cigarette smoking has no scientific basis. We now have extensive scientific evidence to the contrary: smokeless nicotine products are significantly less harmful than the dominant tobacco products on the market, i.e. cigarettes. We also know that they have a replacement function in this market, which in fact creates a net benefit for public health." writes user network ETHRA in an appeal to the Commission.

Sweden goes its own way

While the debate on possible risks of injury with the use of e-cigarettes is raging in social and general media, the European Commission is developing a framework for a common excise duty for nicotine products within the Union. Unlike smoking tobacco, neither e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches according to a centrally agreed minimum level. However, individual countries have already taxed both e-liquid and pouches in different ways, based on their own criteria. 

As Vejpkollen previously reported, the Swedish taxation of nicotine pouches may forced up by almost 500 per centif the proposals circulating are rumoured to be implemented at EU level. Sweden is considerably lower in terms of taxation of nicotine portions, especially compared to neighbouring countries such as Denmark and Finland.

Warns of risks of wrong taxation

According to ETHRA, it is important that the European Commission takes careful account of local circumstances. Unlike many other EU countries, for example, tax commissioner Wopke Hoekstras home country The Netherlands, Sweden has made the judgement that smoke-free nicotine use is promoted in relation to smoking. ETHRA follows the same line in its recommendation to the European Commission.

"Taxation should incentivise desired consumer behaviours, and these measures should be based on sound scientific evidence regarding the risk profiles and documented harms of different product categories. Given their significantly lower risk profile, smokeless nicotine products should not be regulated by applying taxes matching those already in place on cigarettes and smoking tobacco. This would only encourage consumers to continue smoking." writes ETHRA.

Vapers go underground

The European tax framework for tobacco products has been under review for a long time now. One of the obstacles is objections from countries concerned about the black market for cigarettes which has grown in proportion to the increase in taxes. ETHRA believes that the concern is justified, even in the case of smokeless nicotine products. millions of users underground, in terms of their purchases.

"According to a 2020 survey involving over 35,000 EU residents, it was found that 60% of current e-cigarette users would try to buy their products from the grey or black market if the EU introduced high taxation on vaping products. It is therefore very important that taxation of smokeless nicotine products takes into account consumers' views on price and availability", writes ETHRA.

Smoke-free nicotine campaigns

As mentioned, the European Tax Directive is currently under revision at the highest EU level. But according to what Vejpkollen experienced there is no date yet for any decision on the matter. In the meantime many campaigns to influence the outcome. Stories about the supposed harm of new nicotine products are regularly circulating on social media. 

Fake horror stories make a big impact

An example of this is an online campaign around a single case where a young woman claimed to have received so-called "popcorn lung" after sneaking vejpat for a few years. The story has been traced to a single Instagram account and the case has not been documented in any case study or other scientific context. However, the news has spread rapidly in many of the major European media outlets this spring. ETHRA says that these campaigns should be taken with a pinch of salt and should not be seen as scientific evidence of the 'risks of smokeless nicotine products'.

"The view that the use of e-cigarettes and other non-combustible products is as harmful or even worse than smoking has no scientific basis. It is worrying that the tendency to believe this seems to exist at a high level within the European Commission. We therefore urge all its members not to accept unscientific views as a basis for excessive taxation measures against today's, relative to cigarettes, safer nicotine products, such as vapes, nicotine pouches or heated tobacco products. Such decisions would undermine current efforts to reduce the health burden of smoking across the EU and would, contrary to intentions, instead incentivise more smoking." writes ETHRA.

Note to the reader:

European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA) represents 27 million European consumers of safer nicotine products. The organisation is a collaboration of 24 consumer organisations in 17 European countries, supported by experts in tobacco and nicotine science and policy. ETHRA is a non-profit organisation with no industry funding or financial conflicts of interest. The European Tax Directive petition is signed by a range of researchers, consumers and activists in the field of harm reduction in the nicotine market. The public petition can be read in full here:
Letter to the EU Commission regarding the Tobacco Excise Directive