MEPs are cautiously positive about harm reduction and e-cigarettes. But they also want to ban certain flavorings. This is the starting point when Parliament votes on what measures the EU should take to reduce the risk of cancer in the region.
On February 14, the European Parliament will vote on the EU's plan to fight cancer. The plan is a framework known as the BECA (BEating CAncer). In a wide-ranging report, parliamentarians from across Europe take positions on issues ranging from treatment to information and prevention
Smoking and e-cigarettes
The report contains 145 proposals for action to tackle cancer in the EU. Reducing smoking, which is a major cause of several types of cancer, is the focus, along with occupational health and safety and alcohol. However, the report also addresses guidelines for smoke-free nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.
"The European Parliament calls on the European Commission to continue the scientific assessments of the health risks related to electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and novel tobacco products" writes EU Parliament investigator "This also includes the risks of using these products, compared to consuming other tobacco products."
"Making it possible to quit smoking"
The report also highlights vejpning as a potential tool for smoking cessation. Parliament wants the European Commission to take this into account.
"We believe that electronic cigarettes can enable some smokers to gradually quit smoking." writes the EU Parliament.
Recognizing harm reduction
According to the organization ETHRA, European tobacco harm reduction advocates, the EU Parliament's report is an important step in the right direction in terms of the approach to safer nicotine products.
"On the positive side, the final report recognizes tobacco harm reduction as a concept and suggests that safer nicotine products can play a role in fighting cancer. This is a big step in the right direction" writes ETHRA in a comment.
Risk of a taste ban
At the same time, we see ETHRA storm clouds on the horizon. The final report also addresses flavorings in e-cigarettes and e-liquid. And according to the report's authors, some flavors increase the risk of young people and non-smokers taking them up.
"E-cigarettes should not be attractive to minors and non-smokers. Parliament therefore calls on the Commission to evaluate, in the framework of the Tobacco Products Directive, which flavors in e-cigarettes are particularly attractive to minors and non-smokers, and propose a ban on them, as well as on all characteristic flavors in heated tobacco products and novel tobacco products." writes EU Parliament.
"Flavors are crucial"
According to ETHRA a ban on flavorings would have disastrous consequences. For both e-cigarette users and smokers.
"We know that flavors are crucial for smokers to successfully quit smoking using safer nicotine products" writes ETHRA.
"Leads to more smokers"
ETHRA refers to the latest survey in Eurobarometer. According to the statistics, the entire 31% of the total who quit smoking did so with the help of flavored e-cigarettes or similar aids. Fruit flavors were the most popular by a wide margin (48 %), followed by tobacco (36 %), menthol or mint (30 %), candy (20 %) and alcohol (4 %).
"Tastes that appeal to young people also appeal to adults. Restricting adults' access to products they use to quit smoking, and above all, remain smoke-free, will inevitably lead to an increase in smoking. Which would mean a failure in the fight against cancer." writes ETHRA.
The EU Parliament is expected to approve its report on February 14. The Parliament will then submit its proposal to fight cancer to the European Commission, the EU's executive body.
