1 June. Brussels, Belgium — Today, on 1 June, SANT (Subcommittee on Public Health) held a hearing on “Preventing non-communicable diseases” to focus on possible solutions. With nicotine consumption being one of of the focus topics of the discussion, it becomes clear that there is still a lot of misinformation and innate prejudice towards harm reduction among the EU decision-makers, says Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, an association that amplifies voices of vapers worldwide.

“Filwaqt li l-mard mhux komunikabbli, bħal mard kardjovaskulari, mard kroniku tal-pulmun, u l-kanċer għandu jkun il-pedament tal-aġenda tas-saħħa pubblika tal-UE, huwa kruċjali wkoll li jiġu segwiti approċċi bbażati fuq l-evidenza u x-xjenza. Irridu nnaqqsu l-ħsarat attwali u mhux niġġieldu l-konsum tan-nikotina fih innifsu. It-theddida reali għas-saħħa pubblika ġejja mit-tipjip tas-sigaretti. Prodotti alternattivi bħall-isnus, il-vaping, u l-boroż tan-nikotina qed inaqqsu l-mard ikkawżat mit-tipjip, għaliex jgħinu b'mod effettiv lil dawk li jpejpu biex jieqfu. Il-ġlieda kontra l-konsum tan-nikotina minflok il-ħsarat attwali se jkollha konsegwenzi ferm aktar ta' ħsara.,” said Michael Landl.

Among the addressed misconceptions about the role of harm reduction, stood out comments of MEP  González Casares and MEP Trillet-Lenoir. MEP González Casares commented: “One thing we do know that makes everything worse and increases mortality from cardiovascular disease is smoking. What we heard here is some defence of technique or devices in a broader world of tobacco consumption. Not long ago, there was a ban on vaping in some states. Some people say it helps you kick the habit, but if we talk about prevention, we talk about people not smoking or not getting a habit in the first place and this is the risk we should not take.”

MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir commented: “We are here to address public health in a serious, science-based manner.” Yet, MEP addressed the study on the role of nicotine and snus in helping smokers quit, “as clearly the promotion of the harmful product, maybe not as much cancerogenic as tobacco but harmful however.”

“Several studies, wide consumer preferences, and actual real-life examples such as the Swedish smoke-free goal achievement 17 years ahead of the EU target are strong evidence that harm reduction works and can succeed in preventing non-communicable diseases.”żied jgħid Landl.

Following today’s discussion, World Vapers alliance urges the SANT committee to look into the BECA conclusion and embrace harm reduction tools.

World Vapers’ Alliance has released a comprehensive harm reduction fact sheet that contains a compilation of scientific studies covering nicotine use, role of flavours in e-cigarettes, and the impact of taxation on public health. Learn more hawn