The World Vapers’ Alliance has strongly condemned statements made by the European Health Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, regarding plans to equate vaping with smoking and equalise the taxes on vaping products with cigarettes. The World Vapers’ Alliance says that the Commissioner’s claims reveal a profound misunderstanding of tobacco harm reduction and threaten one of Europe’s most effective tools for saving lives.
In Austria, speaking at the European Health Forum Gastein, European Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi stated: “We will raise the excess duties on these new products to the exact same level as it is for classic tobacco products and we will need to continue in that direction.”
He continued by warning of unstated and unproven mythical dangers from vaping, “For whatever reason, in the public [vaping] is not presented as a danger — yet. The health impact is already there.”
Relying on the testimony of people who have been campaigning against vaping, Olivér Várhelyi added: “Of course, it’s very important to have confirmation from the lung experts that we’re doing the right thing.”
Politico reports that the new tax levels will range from an additional 20 to 40% on vape products.
The World Vapers’ Alliance said that Commissioner Várhelyi justified the approach due to rising youth vaping rates.
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