World Vapers’ Alliance presents a 7-step plan for Portugal to combat cigarette consumption

LISBON, PORTUGAL, 10 November  — Grupp globali ta' promozzjoni tad-drittijiet tal-vapers, World Vapers' Alliance (WVA), ippreżenta Pjan ta' 7 passi biex il-gvern Portugiż jiġġieled il-konsum tat-tabakk.

Hekk kif l-aġġornament li ġej tad-Direttiva tal-UE dwar il-Prodotti tat-Tabakk u l-implimentazzjoni tal-Pjan Portugiż għat-tnaqqis tal-kanċer (ENLCC) huma mistennija jiddeterminaw l-istrateġija għall-ġlieda kontra l-konsum tat-tabakk fil-Portugall, il-WVA, flimkien mas-sħab Portugiżi tagħhom Associação Portuguesa de Vaporizadores (APORVAP) u Ohms do Vapor ippreżentaw sett ta’ rakkomandazzjonijiet lil dawk li jieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet politiċi dwar l-avvanz tat-tnaqqis tal-ħsara bħala parti mill-istrateġija tal-Portugall biex inaqqas il-kanċer. 

Il-pjan ta’ 7 passi jinkludi r-rakkomandazzjonijiet li ġejjin:

1. L-impenn ċar tal-Portugall għall-kunċett tat-tnaqqis tal-ħsara mit-tabakk.
2. Il-promozzjoni tal-vaping bħala għodda biex wieħed jieqaf mit-tipjip.
3. Eskludi l-vaping mir-restrizzjonijiet taż-żoni fejn ma jkunx hemm tipjip.
4. Astjeni milli timponi taxxi ogħla fuq il-prodotti tal-vaping u tnaqqas it-tassazzjoni eċċessiva fuq il-likwidi elettroniċi mill-aktar fis possibbli.
5. Irrifjuta l-projbizzjonijiet tat-togħmiet u ma tirrestrinġix l-għażla fil-livelli tan-nikotina għal-likwidi tal-vaping.
6. Żomm il-vaping disponibbli għall-adulti filwaqt li tinforza r-restrizzjonijiet tal-età biex tevita l-użu mill-adolexxenti.
7. Il-promozzjoni tat-tnaqqis tal-ħsara mit-tabakk fl-istituzzjonijiet u l-leġiżlazzjonijiet tal-UE.

“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,” qal Michael Landl, direttur tal-World Vapers' Alliance.

“Today, Portugal has the highest excise tax on e-liquids in Europe, which adds up to EUR 3.23 per 10ml liquid, and the government intends to increase this rate in 2023. Such taxation rules discourage consumers from purchasing e-liquids and, therefore, switch to less harmful alternatives than traditional smoking. Portugal needs a modern, risk-based tax regulation that will remove the burden from consumers and support Portuguese public health goals,” said Cristiano Batista, president of APORVAP.

“Unfortunately, we see a lot of misconceptions about vaping and e-cigarettes among the media, policymakers, and health professionals. At Ohms do Vapor, we provide reliable information to the public about tobacco alternatives, but it is not enough. Portugal needs a country-wide educational campaign on the benefits of tobacco harm reduction if the government wants to achieve their set goals. The 7-step plan developed by WVA supports public awareness needs and should be taken into account by the government,” said Ohms do Vapor.

The 7-step plan reducing smoking rates in Portugal is a part of World Vapers’ Alliance’s Europe-wide campaign on harm reduction, #BackVapingBeatSmoking, previously launched in France, Poland, Czech Republic, and Italy. WVA is running a petizzjoni among the consumers to support harm reduction strategy in the upcoming review of the Tobacco Products Directive, which will be delivered to the Members of the European Parliament at the end of November. 

Learn more about the Back Vaping Beat Smoking campaign hawn.