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EU Tobacco Strategy Failing: Critics

Restrictive policies on safer nicotine alternatives are hindering progress in the EU’s battle against smoking, according to Smoke Free Sweden.

A recent analysis by the group revealed that, at current rates, the EU will not meet its “smoke free” target for another 76 years.

Smoke Free Sweden contrasts the situation in Sweden, where regulatory accommodation of a lower-risk nicotine products—snus—has led to record-low smoking rates, with that in the remainder of the EU, where snus is banned and regulators have cracked down on other alternative products, such as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products.

According to Smoke Free Sweden, widespread resistance to safer alternatives in other nations has pushed the EU’s average smoking rate five times higher than Sweden’s.

“It is time for the EU to recognize that restrictive policies on safer nicotine alternatives are costing lives,” said Delon Human, lead author of the report Missing The Target in a statement.

“The data clearly show that countries prioritizing harm reduction are achieving the smoke free goals that remain a distant dream for other member states. Only by embracing safer alternatives can the EU hope to reverse the current trends, save lives and achieve its long-awaited smoke free goal.”

The data clearly show that countries prioritizing harm reduction are achieving the smoke free goals that remain a distant dream for other member states.

Delon Human, lead author, Missing the Target

According to Smoke Free Sweden, Missing The Target uncovers fundamental flaws in the EU’s approach to achieving its goal of a 5 percent smoking rate by 2040. The 5 percent rate is the internationally recognized benchmark for “smoke free” status.

At its current rate, EU smoking prevalence is projected to drop below 5 percent by 2100, the report found.

What’s more, in nations with severe restrictions on safer nicotine alternatives, cigarette smoking has not only persisted but, in some cases, increased. Estonia, where vape flavors are banned, has seen a staggering 38.89 percent rise in smoking—evidence, according to Smoke Free Sweden, that restrictive policies may be backfiring dramatically.

By contrast, Sweden is on the brink of achieving its smoke-free target 16 years ahead of the EU’s goal. The key to its success, according to Smoke Free Sweden, lies in making safer nicotine alternatives accessible, acceptable and affordable. The widespread availability of alternatives such as snus, nicotine pouches and vapes has driven smoking rates down to near smoke-free levels.

Likewise, Czechia’s embrace of tobacco harm reduction (THR) principles has contributed to a 23 percent drop in smoking rates over the past four years, Missing the Target points out.

“The EU’s current tobacco control policy—relying heavily on taxation, smoking bans and product regulations—has produced only incremental reductions in smoking,” said report co-author Anders Milton, a physician and former president of the Swedish Medical Association.

“A growing body of evidence points to the need for a modernized, evidence-based framework that embraces safer alternatives as part of a comprehensive THR strategy.”

November 6, 2024

U.K. Tobacco and Vapes Bill Introduced

The U.K. government will introduce its Tobacco and Vapes Bill in Parliament today. The legislation involves some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules, including a measure banning younger people from smoking. However, the government abandoned plans for a ban on smoking outside pubs and cafes after concerns were raised about the impact on the hospitality industry.

The proposed legislation gives the government power to ban smoking outside specific outdoor spaces such as children’s playgrounds, schools and hospitals. But the plans will be subject to consultation.

The previous government had announced similar measures to create the first smoke-free generation. However, those plans failed to become law before the general election in the summer when the party lost power.

The new legislation ensures that anyone aged 15 this year, or younger, will be banned from buying cigarettes and aims to make vapes less appealing to children.

“This government is taking bold action to create the first smoke-free generation, clamp down on kids getting hooked on nicotine through vapes, and protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of secondhand smoke,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting in a statement.

Britain banned smoking in almost all enclosed public spaces, including bars and workplaces, in 2007.

Cancer Research U.K. said this led to an estimated 1.9 million fewer smokers, and research in the British Medical Journal estimated there were 1,200 fewer hospital admissions for heart attacks the following year.

Creating a two-tier society in which some adults are permitted to buy tobacco and others aren’t discriminates against younger adults.

Simon Clark, director, Forest

While welcoming the decision to drop a proposed ban on smoking outside pubs and other other hospitality venues, smokers’ lobby group Forest said it was concerned by other measures in the bill.

“Banning smoking outside hospitals is heartless and cruel,” said Forest Director Simon Clark. “Smoking in the open air poses no risk to nonsmokers, including children, but it can be a comfort to patients, visitors and staff who smoke and want a quiet stress-free moment.”

Meanwhile, increasing the age of sale by one year every year, as proposed on the generational tobacco ban part of the bill, would infantilize future generations of adults, according to Forest.

“If you can buy alcohol, drive a car, join the army and vote at 18, you should also be allowed to purchase tobacco,” said Clark.

“Creating a two-tier society in which some adults are permitted to buy tobacco and others aren’t discriminates against younger adults.

“It will cause huge confusion in shops and could lead to even more retail crime.

“It will also drive younger adults to the black market and into the arms of criminal gangs.”

November 5, 2024

Malaysia Urged to Reconsider Display Ban

The Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) is urging the ministry of health to reconsider the vape display ban introduced under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), set to take effect on April 1, 2025.

According to the MVA, the display ban not only limits consumers’ right to make informed decisions but also places unnecessary restrictions on access to crucial product information.

“The display ban for vape creates significant obstacles for adult consumers seeking to make fact-based choices about the products they use. By preventing users from browsing or viewing product options at the point of sale, the ban directly impacts consumers’ ability to access key information and data about product quality, nicotine content and flavor profiles—all critical factors in making informed purchasing decisions,” said MVA President Khairil Azizi Khairuddin.

“Beyond the practical limitations, by forcing vape products out of sight, the ban sends a stigmatizing message, implying that vape is socially unacceptable. This could deter smokers from making the switch to vape, leaving them feeling ashamed for even considering a less harmful alternative to smoking. It is demoralizing for those who are genuinely seeking a way to quit smoking, and it further isolates them from the harm reduction support they need.”

Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark.

Khairil Azizi Khairuddin, president, Malaysian Vapers Alliance

Banning product retail displays at retail outlets goes against basic consumer rights, the MVA believes.

“Informed choice is a cornerstone of consumer rights. Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark, unable to get the information they need to make choices.”

To this end, the MVA urges the ministry of health to reconsider this element of Act 852 and remove the vape display ban.

“There are many adult vape users in Malaysia who have transitioned away from smoking. Our 2023 survey found 73.7 percent of vape users in Malaysia are former smokers. In fact, 80.1 percent of respondents had switched to vaping as a means to quit smoking. These statistics share a realistic view of the use case for vape. Restricting consumer access to product information counteracts harm reduction efforts, which seek to provide smokers with less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes.”

“We are calling on the MoH [ministry of health] to remove the vape display ban from Act 852 and ensure that consumer rights are protected. Transparency and informed decision-making are key to the success of harm reduction strategies in Malaysia,” Khairil concluded.

November 5, 2024

Researchers Alarmed About Midwakh Smoking

Health activists in the Middle East are calling for strong smoking cessation policies and public education initiatives following a University of Sharjah study detailing the health problems associated with traditional Midwakh.

Midwakh comprises a smoking pipe of Arabian origin and a mixture of tobacco from Iran. It is prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian element is represented in an imported sifted loose tobacco mixture locally known as dokha or dizziness that contains bark herbs and aromatic leaves.

“Midwakh smoking is deeply ingrained in UAE tradition but poses significant adverse health outcomes and nicotine dependency,” the scientists write in their paper, which was published in the European Journal of Public Health.

Compared to shisha pipe smoking, another Middle Eastern traditional smoking practice, which has migrated to many western countries, Midwakh is more intense and stronger.

Basema Saddik, the study’s lead author, noted that while global smoking rates were declining, the Middle East faced unique challenges. “Population growth and a younger demographic in the Middle East are leading to sustained high numbers of smokers despite global declines in smoking prevalence,” he said in a statement.

“This is particularly critical for the UAE, where vaping, shisha, Midwakh and other alternative tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular among youth, potentially leading to significant health issues later.”

Although the results of the study are confined to data collected in the UAE, Saddik said the findings were bound to reverberate in countries where Midwakh is common among smoking populations.

“While the scope of this study is regional, its implications are significant and timely, especially as we continue to address nicotine dependence trends in this population.”

The research’s data collection included surveys featuring the “hooked on nicotine checklist,” clinical measurements and pre/post-smoking saliva samples. The scientists note that “Midwakh smoking adversely affects clinical measurements, with early start correlating with higher nicotine dependency, worsened by using multiple tobacco products.”

Saddik said the study’s findings showed that Midwakh users “often develop early signs of nicotine dependence and reported various clinical issues, including elevated carbon monoxide and cotinine levels, which are indicators of harmful tobacco exposure.”

The study reported that 33 percent of Midwakh smokers were under 21 years old, 68 percent had below undergraduate education and monthly household incomes over AED15,000 ($4,000). Smoking initiation was as early as 10 years old.

Smoking habits revealed 37 percent exclusive Midwakh use, 54 percent Midwakh with e-cigarettes, 21 percent with shisha and 34 percent with cigarettes. Post-smoking clinical measurements showed significant increases in blood pressure, heart, pulse and respiratory rates and carbon monoxide levels, according to the authors.

Saddik attributed the widespread use of Midwakh in Arabia and specifically in the UAE to smokers mistakenly believing that the herbs and aromatic leaves in the tobacco make it safer or less harmful than other cigarettes, leading to higher rates of initiation and dependence.

Research shows that a Midwakh smoking session, in terms of nicotine intake, can be the equivalent of smoking up to 10 cigarettes, with higher nicotine and tar levels. The diseases associated with Midwakh smoking are similar to those caused by cigarette smoking, including coronary artery disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“Clinical assessments also revealed negative health indicators, including elevated carbon monoxide levels, which suggest that without intervention, a large portion of the UAE’s youth could face severe long-term health consequences,” said Saddik.

“Addressing these issues now with targeted prevention programs and regulations on alternative tobacco products is essential to change these projected outcomes.”

Saddik described the findings of the study as “a wake-up call” for policymakers in the UAE and other countries with Midwakh smokers to implement “strong smoking cessation policies and public education initiatives, particularly aimed at youth.”

November 5, 2024

Finland to Hike Tobacco Taxes

Finland will increase tobacco taxes by nearly 30 percent between now and 2027, reports Yle News.

The raises will take place in six increments and eventually drive the price of a pack of cigarettes above €13 ($14.16). Tobacco taxes will be raised twice a year until July 2027, for a total increase of 27.1 percent.

The government aims to earn around €100 million from the tobacco tax increases.

The tax increases will apply to cigarettes, loose tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos. However, nicotine pouches and e-cigarette liquids will not be affected by these hikes.

After the increases, a pack of cigarettes will cost an average of around €13.20.

November 4, 2024

Health Ministry Wants to Ban New Tobacco Products

Vietnam’s health ministry has proposed a national ban on e-cigarettes and tobacco-heating products, reports Vietnam News.

During a conference last week, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan stressed that all forms of tobacco, including new-generation products, pose a significant threat to public health.

Nguyen Nho Huy, deputy director of the physical education department at the Ministry of Education and Training, shared that vaping among students had risen from 2.6 percent in 2019 to 8 percent in 2023.

According to ministry of health data, nearly 1,224 people were hospitalized in 2023 due to health complications directly linked to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.

Tran also referenced risks such as battery explosions and nicotine poisoning.

Heated tobacco, he noted, emits smoke containing toxins similar to those found in traditional cigarettes.

Participants in the event also expressed concern about the market for illicit vaping products. In the first half of 2024, authorities uncovered 35 cases of illegal trade and possession of drug-infused e-cigarettes, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duy Trung.

November 4, 2024

Gibraltar Increases Cigarette Duty

The government of Gibraltar has increased the duty on cigarettes by GIP0.25 ($0.32) per pack, reports The Gibraltar Chronicle.

Health authorities on the British Overseas Territory continue to voice concern about the high number of smokers in Gibraltar, which is about double the rate in the U.K.

A lifestyle survey conducted on the Rock in 2021 showed that nearly one in four people on the peninsula smoke. The majority of smokers (51.9 percent) had started by the age of 16. Health advocates blame low tobacco prices.

“The number of people that smoke in Gibraltar is definitely over 20 percent and it’s nearly twice the rates that they have in the U.K.,” Helen Carter, director of public health, told the Gibraltar Chronicle.

“That’s not surprising taking into account how cheap cigarettes are here in Gibraltar.”

November 3, 2024

Maldives Ends Bonding Option for Tobacco

Tobacco products can no longer be bonded in the Maldives following an amendment of the island nation’s customs regulations, reports The Edition.

Bonding allows companies to store imported products in a warehouse without having to immediately pay import duties. The goods are kept “in bond” under customs control until they are taken out of the warehouse for sale or distribution within the country.

Following the change of rules, importers of tobacco products in Maldives must pay import duties as a lump sum in one go when goods are cleared within the set timeframe.

The amendment also changes the penalties for fraudulent imports. Individuals or organization caught bringing products into the country without inward and outward cargo manifests risk a fine of MVR200,000 ($12,937) per instance.

These regulations also impose a fine of MVR100,000 if the vessel carrying goods travels or docks contrary to the documents submitted to customs as the place of port, route or area used to enter Maldives. Mariners who turn of their vessels automatic identification system risk a fine of MVR200,000.

Last month, the government announced a ban on e-cigarettes, set to take effect between Nov. 15, 2024, and Dec. 15, 2024. It also raised duties on cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco.

November 3, 2024

Illicit Market Thriving After Flavor Ban: ITCAN

One year after Quebec banned non-tobacco flavored vapes, most vapers are buying such products illegally in the province, according to Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITCAN).

In a survey carried out by Leger, 61 percent of vapers said that they purchased non-tobacco flavored vapor products in the past 12 months. Forty percent of those respondents said that they purchased an illegal flavored vapor product from a vape shop, and 33 percent of those respondents said they purchased flavored vapor products online. Forty-seven percent of those respondents said they knew it was illegal when they purchased a flavored vapor product

“If the government’s objective was to create an untaxed and unregulated vapor market, then well done and mission accomplished,” said ITCAN Vice President of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Eric Gagnon in a statement.

ITCAN attributed the problem in part to weak enforcement. “A report from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux (MSSS) website reveals that only 150 (38 percent of all vape shops) have been inspected by MSSS,” the company wrote. “Worse yet, very few fines have been issued with reports showing only 28 of those 150 received fines, even though more than 90 percent are uncompliant.”

ITCAN urged the government to train inspectors, issue fines heavy enough to deter illegal players and conduct an “enforcement blitz” to demonstrate the gravity of the situation, among other suggestions.

November 1, 2024

JTI Opposes Canada Settlement

JTI-Macdonald Corp. opposes a proposed multi-billion-dollar settlement of long-running tobacco litigation announced earlier this month, reports Financial Post, citing a company filing made to an Ontario court.

As part of a court-appointed mediator’s plan, Canada’s three leading cigarette manufacturers would pay CAD32.5 billion ($23.6 billion) to provinces and territories and more than CAD4 billion to tens of thousands of Quebec smokers and their heirs.

Before it can be implemented, the proposed plan must be voted on by creditors, which include plaintiffs in two class-action lawsuits in Quebec as well as provincial governments seeking to recover smoking-related health costs. It must also be approved by the court.

In its court filing, JTI-Macdonald Corp. indicated it does not support the proposal due to “critical outstanding issues.”

November 1, 2024

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