In light of the imminent update of the EU Tobacco Products Directive and the implementation of the Portuguese Plan to reduce cancer (ENLCC), the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) presented Portugal with a plan to combat cigarette consumption.

De 7-trinsplan was presented by the WVA, together with their Portuguese partners Associação Portuguesa de Vaporizadores (APORVAP) and Ohms do Vapor. It includes the following recommendations:

1. Portugal’s clear commitment to the concept of reduktion af tobaksskader.
2. Fremme af vaping som et værktøj til rygestop.
3. Undtag vaping fra restriktioner for røgfri områder.
4. Undgå at pålægge højere afgifter på vaping-produkter og reducer den overdrevne beskatning af e-væsker hurtigst muligt.
5. Afvis forbud mod smagsstoffer og begræns ikke valget af nikotinniveauer i vapingvæsker.
6. Hold vaping tilgængelig for voksne, mens du håndhæver aldersbegrænsninger for at forhindre brug blandt unge.
7. Fremme af reduktion af tobaksskader i EU-institutioner og -lovgivning.

WVA director Michael Landl encourages Portugal to become a leader in tobacco harm reduction. “Smoking is responsible for over 13,000 deaths in Portugal every year. Multiple ways have been effective in helping smokers quit, and vaping has proven to be the most successful tool so far. We need a modern, open regulatory framework to fit these alternatives to reduce cancer rates successfully. While the Portuguese government is designing the ENLCC strategy, we offer 7 comprehensive steps for the government to succeed in the fight against tobacco-induced cancer. Portugal can become a global tobacco harm reduction leader by implementing consumer-friendly vaping regulation.”

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