Brussels, 31 May 2023 — Today, on World No Tobacco Day, Members of the European Parliament expressed their concern with the EU’s approach towards smoking cessation and emphasised the need for a sensible, risk-based approach, following the Swedish smoke-free policies. MEPs Charlie Weimers and Johan Nissinen called for a more open approach towards harm reduction in the EU at the press conference in Brussels, hosted by the World Vapers’ Alliance.

“The Swedish case presents the third and final determining pillar in the pro-harm reduction argument. The science, the experience of the consumers, and now the Swedish example are prove that harm reduction works in achieving a smoke-free society. Now we have an undeniable case that the EU-wide regulation must be risk-based and evidence-supported,” a déclaré Michael Landl, directeur de l'Alliance mondiale des vapoteurs.

“Policy should be evidence based. WHO will soon classify Sweden as Europe’s first smoke-free country because of harm reduction policies and widespread use of snus. Sweden has a wide range of harm reduction products: we have snus, nicotine pouches, vaping, etc. People are given a choice!” commented MEP Charlie Weimers. “Sweden is reducing harm and it’s working very well,” concluded MEP Weimers.

Pour souligner l'impact du modèle suédois, le député européen Johann Nissinen a déclaré : “ Il est clair que fumer tue, et nous devons tout faire pour éviter ces décès inutiles. La Suède est le meilleur exemple de la manière dont cela est possible, grâce à une approche pragmatique de réduction des risques. C'est le seul pays de l'UE où le snus est légal et populaire : 181 % de la population l'utilise. Consommer du snus plutôt que des cigarettes a sauvé de nombreuses vies en Suède. Il est temps que la Commission européenne prenne conscience de cette réalité et agisse en conséquence. ”

“Snus has been used since the 1800s, so we have more than two hundred years of a case study that proved that tobacco harm reduction works. Snus is a great way to continue consuming nicotine without harmful chemicals you take from the traditional combustible cigarettes,” said Carissa Düring, the Director of the Considerate Poachers. “Many countries in Europe are trying to overregulate or ban alternative nicotine products. Policymakers believe that banning something will make them disappear. We know that it is not true.”

“World No Tobacco Day is a sad reminder that a new approach in the fight against smoking is needed. Instead of fighting less harmful alternatives like vaping or pouches, the EU must start accepting reality: harm reduction works! Only with the harm reduction approach as a centrepiece of the new Tobacco Products Regulation, so the EU can achieve its smoking-free goals before the target,” a conclu Michael Landl.

Following the press conference, the World Vapers’ Alliance hosted an installation called Beat Smoking Like The Swedes, with vikings deflating the 5-metre tall cigarette as a symbol of the Swedish success in achieving smoke-free status.

Learn more about the WVA’s Beat Smoking Like The Swedes campaign ici.