Czech Republic Plans to Reduce Tobacco Harm with Nicotine Pouches

Jul.01.2022
Czech Republic Plans to Reduce Tobacco Harm with Nicotine Pouches
Czech Republic to implement a tobacco harm reduction strategy including the use of nicotine pouches, as local leadership attitudes change.

Due to a change in the mentality of local leaders, the Czech Republic will be implementing a strategy aimed at reducing the harm caused by tobacco, which includes the use of nicotine pouches. According to Ondřej Jakob, a spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Health, a new action plan is currently being discussed and is expected to be implemented in the near future.

 

This issue has yet to be resolved. A new law is being prepared for nicotine pouches to define their composition, appearance, quality, characteristics, and other parameters, in order to minimize their adverse effects on human health." Jakob explained. The new law is expected to consider various factors that need to be taken into account. He said, "At this point, we anticipate debating a new action plan that should set the direction for the next three years, including tobacco addiction.

 

According to ECigIntelligence, successfully implementing harm reduction in the country's next three-year action plan could also promote other safer alternatives, such as electronic cigarettes and nasal snuff. Jakob discussed these products, stating that "electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are both controversial.

 

We believe that, in the future, new products should be designed with flavors that mask the unpleasant taste of nicotine while still adhering to harm reduction principles. However, they should be limited as much as possible to attract as few people as possible, especially young people, to avoid creating another batch of nicotine addicts.

 

The threat to teenagers, including risks to their health and the emergence of new addictions, has yet to be resolved and this may also apply to current non-smokers. For this reason, the Czech Republic is currently discussing this issue," he added.

 

The European Union is still spreading the "debunked theory".

 

Meanwhile, the EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, questioned the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid and even claimed that they are a gateway to smoking in another statement spreading misinformation about e-cigarettes.

 

Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers' Alliance (WVA), expressed concern that the European Commission is still disregarding scientific evidence on e-cigarettes. He stated that it is alarming that the Commission continues to promote outdated and debunked theories on e-cigarettes, and systematically ignores vast amounts of scientific evidence that demonstrates their benefits, not to mention the firsthand experiences of millions of e-cigarette users. Compared to traditional therapies like gum or patches, e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than smoking and a more effective method for quitting. The Commission's approach to e-cigarettes will only result in loss of life.

 

“Overall, it is known that both smokeless and novel tobacco and related products contain nicotine, a toxic and highly addictive substance known to be harmful to health - enhancing nicotine addiction. This is why these products are regulated and, as far as oral tobacco is concerned, banned by the European Union,” the statement concluded.

 

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