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 dúirt Michael Landl, stiúrthóir ar an World Vapers' Alliance.

“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.

Chun tionchar mhúnla na Sualainne a threisiú, dúirt an Feisire Eorpach Johann Nissinen: “Is léir go mbíonn marú ag baint le caitheamh tobac, agus ní mór dúinn gach rud is féidir linn a dhéanamh chun na básanna gan ghá sin a chosc. Is í an tSualainn an sampla is fearr de conas is féidir é seo a bhaint amach, eadhon le cur chuige pragmatach laghdaithe díobhála. Is í an t-aon tír san AE ina bhfuil snus dleathach agus coitianta le 18% den daonra á úsáid. Shábháil toitíní go leor beatha sa tSualainn. Tá sé in am go mbeidh Coimisiún an AE ag súil leis an réaltacht seo agus ag tosú ag gníomhú dá réir.”

“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,” arsa Landl mar fhocal scoir.

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 anseo.