NNA & ETHRA Call For Survey Support
The NNA and ETHRA have asked for vapers to contribute as the EU launches a survey calling for evidence to guide future legislation
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by Dave Cross
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The NNA says: “Last week, the EU Commission launched a call for evidence to assess its legislative framework for tobacco control. Its purpose is to evaluate if current tobacco control legislation has fulfilled its goals and whether or not it will further aspirations in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to achieve a tobacco free generation by 2040.
“Various EU voices have been speaking of a ‘rapid rise’ in emerging products such as nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and nicotine free e-liquid which are not covered under the last Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in 2014. They are also raising concerns about online sales and there is a sense amongst some that there is unfinished business from the last TPD. Many have expressed their wish for vaping to be treated in the same way as smoking. There is also much talk of bans on flavours, plus other restrictions on where products can be sold and used.”
Following Brexit, many UK vapers are inclined to believe that we are separate from EU legislation now – but the NNA cautions against this mentality.
The charity warns: “What emerges from this consultation will guide a review of the TPD which will be very influential globally and could have an impact here too. If you are a consumer reading this from an EU member state it will be a clear and present danger.
“We hope many of you will take the opportunity to have your say by accessing the initiative here where you will also find a PDF file with extra information, available in 23 languages. Here is how to respond:”
- Create an account and choose a password
- Click “give feedback”
- Choose your preferred language
- Type your comments in the box provided (up to 4000 words) and there is also an option to attach a file, should you wish.
- Then, once you are done, click to submit. Your comments will be instantly published.
The call for evidence runs until 17 June, after which a 12-week consultation process will take place.
“It is important that the consumer view is respected in an exercise such as this, so please do tell the EU your story and emphasise why the TPD review should embrace harm reduction, rather than imposing restrictions which will make reduced risk products less accessible and less appealing for smokers who may be considering trying them.”
The ETHRA has echoed the NNA’s call for vaper participation.
“Many politicians and anti-vaping voices call for vaping to be treated the same way as smoking. This would spell disaster for vapers and public health. Millions of vapers could be forced back to smoking due to flavour bans and other restrictions on the accessibility of vaping to the people that need it most.
“For too long, lawmakers have ignored vapers’ opinions, meaning the most important voices – those of the consumer – and their lived experiences are missing and misunderstood. So, when we have the opportunity to raise our voices, we need to take the chance.”
ETHRA has posted a detailed guide to making a submission here: https://ethra.co/news/107-european-commission-call-for-evidence
References:
- Evaluation of the legislative framework for tobacco control - https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13481-Evaluation-of-the-legislative-framework-for-tobacco-control_en
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous vape companies to develop content for their websites.
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