Ever since the Brexit referendum result, ministers have promised us a long overdue ‘bonfire’ of EU regulation.
One area where this is desperately needed is the approach to tobacco harm reduction. The Government has committed to the goal of Smokefree 2030, meaning smoking prevalence of 5% or lower nationally.
To stand a chance at achieving that the UK must get rid of nonsensical EU regulations that are damaging public health – and quickly.
Highlights:
- The EU’s nonsensical approach to safer tobacco alternatives is damaging public health
- Sweden negotiated an opt-out from the ban on snus and has the lowest smoking rate in Europe as a result
- The UK should use its Brexit freedoms to create a smoke-free society by 2030
The European Union Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) has already held the UK back for too long – banning far safer alternatives to smoking, like the chewing tobacco snus. Sweden negotiated an opt out from the EU-wide ban on the sale of snus on joining the bloc in 1995. The result has been dramatic, with the product directly responsible for Sweden boasting the lowest smoking rate in Europe at just 6% (and falling), and with it the lowest rate of smoking-related diseases.
Martin Cullip – CAPX – 2022-09-14.
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