European Parliament Recognizes E-Cigarettes as a Smoking Cessation Tool That Can Help Smokers Quit G

On February 19, it was reported that e-cigarettes ushered in an important breakthrough in Europe.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved a report on cancer prevention and treatment by a margin of 2 to 15,The report recognizes atomized e-cigarette products、The potential contribution of heated non-burning products and new tobacco to smoking cessation。

report pointed out，E-cigarettes could allow some smokers to gradually quit smoking。

The European Parliament is one of the three major institutions of the European Union (European Council, European Commission, and European Parliament). It is the EU's participating legislative, supervisory, budgetary and advisory body. Its status and role and its power to participate in decision-making are gradually expanding.

What is special about the European Parliament is that since 1979, its members have been directly elected by the people of EU member states, and it is the only directly elected parliamentary body in the EU.

The EU now has 27 member states, including Germany, France, Italy and Portugal. The report's impact would theoretically cover approximately 740 million people across Europe.

The original text of this report, the relevant description of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, is roughly translated as follows:

Call on the committee to conduct a scientific assessment of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and new tobacco products, including assessing the risks of using these products compared with the consumption of other tobacco products, taking follow-up action, and developing a list of substances contained in and emitted in these products at the European level; believe that e-cigarettes can allow some smokers to gradually quit smoking; and believe that e-cigarettes should not attract minors and non-smokers; Therefore, the Commission is called on to assess which scents in e-cigarettes are particularly attractive to minors and non-smokers within the framework of the Tobacco Products Directive and propose a ban. In addition, it is proposed to ban heating tobacco products and all characteristic flavors in new tobacco products.

Judging from the report, in addition to measures to reduce the incidence of cancer, the committee's report also pays special attention to the serious health impact of smoking.

The report also emphasized the need for further research on e-cigarettes and view e-cigarettes from a relative perspective, because smoking can cause death, but e-cigarettes do not, arguing that e-cigarettes can allow some smokers to gradually quit smoking.

The final text of the report also mentions further evaluation of flavors that are "particularly attractive to minors and non-smokers" and the possible ban on the use of these flavors in the context of a European review of the Tobacco Products Directive.

The greatest significance of this report is that it recognizes the smoking cessation function of e-cigarettes, and also reminds young people not to become e-cigarette users, and prohibits flavored products.

This is crucial. Many studies have shown that the potential harm of smoking e-cigarettes is much lower than smoking.

According to data from the UK Department of Public Health (PHE), e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco and reduce the risk of cancer by 99.6%.

The Independent European Electronic Cigarette Association (IEVA) considers the report significant, believing that "the European Parliament has become the first elected parliamentary body in the world to support reducing the harm of tobacco."

Dustin Dahlmann, chairman of IEVA, said in a statement:

This is a landmark statement from the European Parliament that should go a long way to convince smokers of the health benefits of switching to e-cigarettes. We now encourage other EU institutions-especially the European Commission-to accept this and ensure that policy follows science and not the other way around.# p#pagination title #e#

IEVA also said it is crucial to avoid a taste ban on e-cigarettes, because the diversity of tastes is one of the main reasons why adult smokers switch to e-cigarettes and e-cigarette users do not re-smoke.
Dahlman said research on the impact of the flavor ban shows that many e-cigarette users are re-smoking due to the ban, and we must prevent this. We agree that steps must be taken to reduce inappropriate marketing, while recognizing the key role of flavor in helping smokers quit smoking.

The latest vote in the European Parliament shows that e-cigarettes have ushered in the latest positive views in Europe, which will have a profound impact on the development of e-cigarettes around the world.

Although Britain, the paradise of e-cigarettes, has left the European Union, and the UK has long promoted e-cigarettes nationwide and is preparing to include e-cigarettes in medical insurance, encourage smokers to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, and issued an industry that e-cigarettes reduce the harm of 95% compared with cigarettes. Bible, has far-reaching impact.

Now the European Parliament is beginning to learn from the UK，I really want to like this。

As the report states, e-cigarettes can help some smokers quit smoking, but at the same time, it should also prevent teenagers from becoming addicted.

Smoking is harmful to your health. For the sake of your health and your family, please do not smoke or smoke as little as possible.

Extended reading:

On December 11, 2021,The Independent European Alliance for Electronic Cigarettes (IEVA) welcomes the decision of members of the European Parliament to recognize reducing tobacco harm as a tool to defeat cancer, but there are still concerns that the report approved by the European Parliament today opens the door to an EU spice ban.

The Select Committee on Combating Cancer (BECA) recently voted on amendments and drafts to rapporteur Véronique Trillet-Lenoir's "Fighting Cancer" report. The report's authors identified smoking as one of the leading causes of cancer, and IEVA agreed that every effort should be made to significantly reduce smoking rates in Europe.

"There is no doubt that reducing tobacco harm is a key tool to achieve this goal," IEVA wrote in a press release.「Even those who are sceptical about reducing tobacco harm admit that e-cigarettes are many orders of magnitude less harmful than continuing to smoke. According to data from the UK Department of Public Health, e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco and have a 99.6% lower risk of cancer.」

The report's compromise amendment to e-cigarettes includes #p#pagination title #e#Acknowledging that e-cigarettes are a tool to help some smokers quit smoking and the need for further research on e-cigarettes in related aspects (i.e., compared to combustible tobacco)。

Earlier, IEVA released a report on the "E-Cigarette Debate: E-Cigarettes and Public Health"

E-cigarettes and public health

Discussions in the field of health are nothing new-for example, initial alcoholism, later drug use and control of the epidemic of AIDS, banning them for health reasons, greatly reducing deaths and disease.

In the past, governments have taken measures to help people quit smoking, and these measures are backed by commitments under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Despite 14 years of efforts, the number of deaths from smoking-related diseases is still rising and is expected to reach 8 million worldwide by 2030. It is clear that regulatory measures alone cannot solve the epidemic, and legislation provides no panacea: despite the authorities 'efforts, many people are still unable to quit smoking. The problem facing the government and WHO is how to help those who cannot kick the habit when legislative measures fail.

In 1976, Professor Michael Russell concluded: "#p#pagination title #e#People smoke for nicotine, but are harmed by tar。”。Clearly,If the tar is removed, the harm caused by cigarettes can be eliminated。Since then, some companies have developed alternative products, such as e-cigarettes, to reduce tar exposure. WHO views "tobacco control" as a series of strategies to reduce supply, demand and harm aimed at improving health by eliminating or reducing consumption and exposure to tobacco and smoke. Despite this,WHO and many authoritative bodies have not yet recognized the potential of e-cigarettes to reduce harm, but instead insist on promoting the use of nicotine replacement therapy.（NTS）。Evidence from randomized controlled trials shows that e-cigarettes are twice as effective as NRTs as a smoking cessation tool。

Authorities should encourage smokers who cannot quit completely to switch to less harmful nicotine consumption methods, such as e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes as a tool to reduce harm

asUK Department of Public Health, Royal College of Physicians, German Federal Drug Office, French Economic, Social and Environmental Commission (CESE) and RIVMAs regulators have emphasized,E-cigarettes provide smokers with a less harmful alternative than smoking #p#pagination title #e#。

After a landmark review of existing evidence,The UK Public Health Department has concluded that e-cigarettes can reduce harm by at least 95% compared to traditional cigarettes。Canada and New ZealandLawmakers in Washington also encourage smokers to switch to e-cigarettes. In 2016, the Royal College of Physicians reported that "the health risks of long-term inhalation of e-cigarette vapor are unlikely to exceed 5% of the risks of smoking."

This was supported by the Department of Public Health's 2018 e-cigarette evidence review, which concluded that "The cancer potential of e-cigarettes is largely less than 0.5% of the risk of smoking."。The UK Department of Public Health also emphasized that "So far, no health risks from passive e-cigarettes and second-hand smoke have been identified。”。Meanwhile, survey data from around the world show that more than half of smokers mistakenly believe e-cigarettes are as harmful as smoking. Legislation that puts smoking and e-cigarettes on an equal footing in terms of sales and marketing does not help this.

These methods contrast with methods in countries such as New Zealand,New Zealand has introduced specific regulations that distinguish them from tobacco products. Accurately informing smokers of lower-risk smoking alternatives can be a key driver of quitting smoking。Such policies in the UK have led to a sharp decline in cigarette smoke for decades (from 19.9% in 2011 to 14.9% in 2017), including the opening of two e-cigarette stores in hospitals in the Midwest. Recently, the British government released the "Green Paper on Medical Prevention", which aims to make the UK smoke-free by 2030 by encouraging smokers to quit smoking or switch to alternatives such as e-cigarettes that reduce harmful substances.

There are concerns about whether smokers can lead to nicotine addiction among never-smokers or teenagers. A recent e-cigarette study of young people across the UK found that "most e-cigarette experiments have not translated into regular use, and the level of regular e-cigarette use among young people who have never smoked remains low.# p#pagination title #e#Compared with traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes are also much less harmful to the environment。Recent statistics show thatNon-biodegradable cigarette butts account for approximately 25-50% of collected garbage, 15 and are the largest source of marine pollution, surpassing plastic.。

In contrast, e-cigarettes are known to have a much smaller impact and have the potential to significantly reduce the number of disk-shaped cigarette butts 16. In addition, most modern e-cigarettes are rechargeable devices with refillable liquid systems, which further limits waste. E-cigarettes can have a significant positive impact and should be seen as a tool to reduce harm.

Smokers should be encouraged to follow the example of the UK, New Zealand and Canadian governments and shift from traditional cigarettes to alternatives that have proven to be less harmful, such as e-cigarettes.