May 2, Budapest. Hungary’s ruling party Fidesz doubles down on its anti-tobacco harm reduction stance and denies scientific evidence about the potential benefits of vaping for public health. State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Benec Rétvári, reaffirms that Hungary will continue to treat vaping the same as smoking and won’t overturn the vaping flavour ban.

Michael Landl, directeur van de World Vapers' Alliance, zei: 

“"Het is schokkend dat de Hongaarse overheid nog steeds vasthoudt aan versleten en ontkrachte mythes over vapen. Rétvári negeert systematisch wetenschappelijk bewijs dat de voordelen van vapen aantoont, om nog maar te zwijgen van de ervaringen uit de eerste hand van miljoenen vapers. Vapen is 95% minder schadelijk dan roken en een effectievere methode om te stoppen met roken dan traditionele therapieën zoals kauwgom en nicotinepleisters. De Hongaarse aanpak van vapen zal niets anders dan levens kosten."” 

De verklaring is een schriftelijk antwoord to a question asked by MP Laszló Lukács regarding the future treatment of vaping by the Hungarian government.

Furthermore, the government refuses to recognize the success of other countries that follow a harm-reduction approach. If they did, it would become clear that the current approach is wrong. The United Kingdom and Sweden are experiencing record-low smoking rates and fewer smoking-induced illnesses than Hungary because they encourage smokers to switch by smart regulation. At the same time, the Hungarian government continues its failing prohibitionist approach.

“The statement shows that Hungary intends to keep ignoring science and spreading misinformation about vaping. This is not a good sign for public health. Vaping is not the same as smoking and must be treated differently. Equating a 95% less harmful alternative with smoking will prevent thousands of smokers from quitting,”" voegde Landl eraan toe.