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Tag: reduced harm

  • Europe Risks Becoming Another Australia, BAT Boss Says

    Europe Risks Becoming Another Australia, BAT Boss Says

    Kingsley Wheaton, BAT’s Chief Commercial Officer, warned that Europe’s planned sharp tax hikes on cigarettes and alternative nicotine products risk fueling illicit trade similar to the crisis that has been created in Australia. Similar to his remarks last week at GTNF 2025 in Brussels, Wheaton told Euractiv that high excise taxes and strict regulations have pushed 80% of Australia’s tobacco market underground, resulting in taxpayer losses of AUD 9 billion ($5.9 billion) since 2019 and flourishing organized crime responsible for extortion, fire bombings, and murder.

    The warning comes as the European Commission pursues a revision of the Excise Tax Directive, proposing a 139% increase in cigarette taxes and steep rises for e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches. The EU aims to become smoke-free by 2040, targeting tobacco and nicotine consumption below 5%. While BAT acknowledges that smokeless products are not risk-free, Wheaton argued they are far less harmful than smoking and should remain accessible and affordable even as cigarette prices rise.

    Wheaton urged policymakers to focus on progressively taxing cigarettes while maintaining access to safer nicotine alternatives, alongside responsible packaging, retail licensing, and nicotine ceilings, however, the Commission continues to repeatedly reject any warning that comes from cigarette-producing companies.

  • 22nd Century Group Backs FDA’s Proposed Reduced Nicotine Standard

    22nd Century Group Backs FDA’s Proposed Reduced Nicotine Standard

    22nd Century Group, Inc. submitted public comments in support of the U.S. FDA’s proposed rule to mandate very low nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products. CEO Larry Firestone said the evidence shows such a standard could save millions of lives and transform the market within two years, with the company’s VLNC technology already proven to deliver consumer-acceptable products.

    22nd Century criticized Big Tobacco’s stance as contradictory, arguing that support for a reduced nicotine mandate would align with industry claims of pursuing a “smoke-free future.” The company pledged to continue backing the rule, calling it a landmark public health measure.

    “The evidence is overwhelming that a reduced nicotine yield standard for combusted tobacco products has the potential to save millions of lives and trillions of dollars cumulatively in the U.S. alone,” said Firestone. “From both a public health and commercial standpoint, the only barrier left to the most transformative public health policy of a generation is the willingness to move forward with this mandate.”