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, dyrektor World Vapers' Alliance, powiedział: 

„To szokujące, że węgierski rząd wciąż szerzy zużyte i obalone mity na temat wapowania. Rétvári systematycznie ignoruje dowody naukowe potwierdzające korzyści płynące z wapowania, nie wspominając o doświadczeniach z pierwszej ręki milionów vaperów. Wapowanie to 95% mniej szkodliwy than smoking and a more effective method to quit smoking niż tradycyjne terapie, takie jak guma i plastry nikotynowe. Węgierskie podejście do wapowania nie zrobi nic, poza kosztowaniem życia”. 

The statement is a written response 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,” added Landl.