On December 5th, the European Commission (EC) announced its "Global Health Strategy" which aims to prioritize tackling the root causes of poor health. However, the strategy failed to address the issue of smoking through means of reducing tobacco harm.
The director of the World Vapers' Alliance (WVA), Michael Landl, has emphasized that the European Union (EU) has disregarded the science behind electronic cigarettes.
He stated: "The European Commission has once again ignored the voices of science and consumers. Reducing tobacco harm must be a key element of all EU health policies. 700,000 people die each year from smoking, while the Commission fights against less harmful alternatives. Science is clear that the harm of electronic cigarettes is much lower than smoking and they are one of the most effective smoking cessation aids. Consumers are demanding that the Commission finally accept this reality.
Meanwhile, in light of potential backlash against European Union efforts to reduce smoking rates, the EU has leaked a draft plan to increase taxes on electronic cigarette products, causing concern among the public. Experts in tobacco harm reduction and consumer groups have emphasized that such a tax would not only have adverse effects on public health, but could also create a large-scale new black market for electronic cigarette products.
The committee claims that increasing taxes will improve public health, but the facts say the opposite. Ordinary smokers trying to quit must be able to afford a less harmful substitute such as e-cigarettes. If the committee wants to mitigate the burden of smoking on public health, they must make e-cigarettes more affordable and accessible, not less," said Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers' Alliance (WVA).
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