In light of the imminent update of the EU Tobacco Products Directive and the implementation of the Portuguese Plan to reduce cancer (ENLCC), the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) presented Portugal with a plan to combat cigarette consumption.

De 7-stappenplan was presented by the WVA, together with their Portuguese partners Associação Portuguesa de Vaporizadores (APORVAP) and Ohms do Vapor. It includes the following recommendations:

1. Portugal’s clear commitment to the concept of vermindering van de schade door tabak.
2. Promotie van vapen als hulpmiddel om te stoppen met roken.
3. Sluit vapen uit van de beperkingen voor rookvrije zones.
4. Zie af van hogere belastingen op vaping-producten en verlaag de buitensporige belastingen op e-liquids zo snel mogelijk.
5. Verwerp smaakverboden en beperk de keuze in nicotinegehaltes voor e-liquids niet.
6. Zorg ervoor dat vapen ook voor volwassenen toegankelijk blijft, maar handhaaf leeftijdsgrenzen om gebruik door adolescenten te voorkomen.
7. Bevorderen van het terugdringen van de schade door tabaksgebruik in de EU-instellingen en -wetgeving.

WVA director Michael Landl encourages Portugal to become a leader in tobacco harm reduction. “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.”

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