Stakeholders have strongly criticised a recent EU study on electronic cigarettes for being selective in its findings when it comes to their health implications. The European Commission, though, insists that the study was based on the latest and up-to-date evidence.
The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) published on 23 September its preliminary opinion on novel tobacco products as part of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) assessment due next year.
Electronic cigarettes and novel tobacco products have emerged as alternatives to traditional smoking, which is responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths every year in the EU.
However, the EU is still cautious when it comes to this rising trend amid a lack of evidence regarding their long-term implications.
Advocates cite several studies worldwide and insist that novel tobacco products are much less harmful compared to traditional smoking. On the other hand, EU policymakers emphasise that less harm is still harm.
Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com – November 4, 2020.
Want More Investigative Content?
