The EU Commission (EC) has recently announced a plan to ban the sales of flavoured heated tobacco products, and Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, is also calling for “stricter enforcement” on any new products entering the market.

In response to the announcement Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, highlighted that this is another misguided attack against tobacco harm reduction. “It is shocking that the EU Commission still fights tobacco harm reduction. We need as many options as possible to achieve the Commission’s own 5% tobacco use target. Vaping, nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products all help people quit smoking and are less harmful.”

Landl added that the commission sadly keeps ignoring the science in favour of vaping. “The Commission systematically ignores the wealth of scientific evidence pointing to the benefits, not to mention the first-hand experience of millions of vapers. The Commission’s negative approach to harm reduction will do nothing but boost the black market and push people back to smoking.”

“Instead of recommending smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives, Commissioner Kyriakides refuses to listen to science, experts, and consumers. This plan shows that the EU Commission intends to further crack down on harm reduction while accepting all the negative consequences.”

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