“In favour of science-based and proportionate regulation of smokeless nicotine products”
This is the call from a range of consumer groups and doctors ahead of the upcoming revision of the EU tobacco directive.
This is an opinion piece. Join the discussion by leaving a comment or contact the editorial team!
OPINION: Ahead of the upcoming revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD3), we - scientists, public health experts, consumer representatives and concerned citizens - call on EU policy makers to ensure that the upcoming legislation is based on science.
The goal must be regulation that protects young people from nicotine use while giving adult smokers better opportunities to quit or switch to less harmful alternatives.
Why is this initiative needed?
As work on TPD3 takes shape, it is crucial that policy makers have access to up-to-date research, practical experience and knowledge from the people directly affected by the legislation.
We share a common vision of a transparent regulatory framework based on scientific evidence and proportionate to the risks posed by different nicotine products.
Our expectations for TPD3
We call on EU policymakers to ensure the following:
Risk-based regulation
Regulation should be based on the actual risk levels of products. The aim must be to reduce the harm from cigarette smoking, while maintaining strong protection for young people.
Transparency and scientific quality
Decisions should be based on transparent sources, clear quality requirements for evidence and a holistic assessment of the overall scientific research.
Proportionate restrictions
Any restrictions, including rules on ingredients and flavourings, should be targeted, scientifically justified and proportionate. Blanket bans that ignore differences between product categories risk having unintended consequences.
Taking account of reality
Legislation should take into account how people actually use nicotine products. This includes switching from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives, dual use, smoking cessation, youth use, as well as unintended effects of restrictions and bans, such as illicit trade and misconceptions about relative risks.
Impact assessments with a holistic approach
Policy makers should evaluate not only the public health impacts, but also the social and economic impacts of proposed regulations.
Consumers' experiences must be recognised
People who use the products and who have first-hand experience of quitting smoking must be given a central role in the policy process.
Protection of human rights
People with personal experience of smoking and smoking cessation should not be marginalised in the policy debate. Their experiences are an important part of the knowledge base.
Participate in the consultation on TPD3
The EU TPD3 consultations are the main opportunity for researchers, experts, consumers and citizens to influence both the impact assessment and the future legislative proposal.
We invite the scientific community, public health experts and consumer organisations to contribute in the following ways:
Participate in the EU Call for Evidence”
The consultation is open until 15 June.
Contribute with research and experience
Share knowledge on which measures have actually reduced smoking, which have been less successful and what lessons can be learnt from, for example, general taste bans.
Describe the reality of consumers' situation
Tell us about your experience of quitting smoking, the barriers to quitting, how availability and prices affect your choice, and how perceptions of risk affect the possibility of switching from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives or the risk of returning to smoking.
Demand focus on results
Public health policies should be judged on the basis of the health effects they actually achieve - not just on the products they regulate.
Signatories
- Dr Fernando F. Bueno, Spokesperson for THR Platform, Spain
- Carissa Düring, Considerate Pouchers Sweden, Sweden
- Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos, University of Patras, Greece
- Alex Gogoana, ACPAN, Romania
- Alberto Gómez Hernández, World Vapers’ Alliance, Spain
- Dr Axel Klein, People and Psychoactive Plants, UK/Germany
- Ingmar Kurg, NNA Smoke-free Estonia, Estonia
- Prof Dirk Ziebolz, Brandenburg Medical School, Germany
