EU Health Ministers Gather to Discuss Tobacco Harm Reduction Strategies in light of Scientific Evidence and Sweden’s Success

European health ministers are set to gather in Brussels for a two-day meeting, during which they will discuss a range of topics, including the Beating Cancer Plan and its legislative initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption, as well as promoting healthy diets. The Director of the World Vapers Alliance, Michael Landl, has urged policymakers to embrace science-based tobacco harm reduction strategies as a means of steering Europe towards a smoke-free future.

Landl pointed to Sweden as an example of what can be achieved when safer and less harmful alternatives to traditional tobacco products are embraced. He emphasized the importance of implementing sensible regulations regarding tobacco harm reduction in order to prevent unnecessary deaths caused by smoking. Landl criticized the EU Commission for disregarding the scientific evidence behind tobacco policies, despite evidence showing that safer nicotine alternatives like vaping or pouches are significantly less harmful than smoking and can assist in smoking cessation.

The Beating Cancer Plan recognizes the role that vaping can play in smoking cessation, and Landl urged EU health ministers to seize this opportunity to advocate for regulations that could prevent 700,000 unnecessary deaths annually caused by smoking. He stressed the importance of following Sweden’s lead and implementing sensible regulations that prioritize public health over political interests.