And now Sweden ? Where will the anti-vape policy in Europe end ?

And now Sweden ? Where will the anti-vape policy in Europe end ?

Sweden Tobacco Control

Introduction

On February 25, the Swedish Minister for Social Affairs introduced a bill entitled "stricter rules for new nicotine products".

The purpose of this law is to prohibit the sale of any flavoured e-liquid (including mint) in Sweden, with or without nicotine.  

If parliament follows the government's recommendations on March 22, the law will be in effect by January 1st, 2023.

From this date onwards, no e-liquids with a smell or taste other than tobacco will be allowed in Sweden.

A model for tobacco control

Sweden has long been Europe's leading tobacco control country. With only 5% of its population smoking and the lowest lung cancer rate in Europe, it was well on the way to achieving its goal of a "smoke-free country".

If Sweden has achieved such results, it's not due to a repressive policy against smokers, nor to excessive taxes on tobacco products. This pragmatic country has been able to implement an exemplary tolerance regarding the use of cigarette substitutes such as vaping or snus. The snus is a widespread practice in Sweden, which consists of placing a bag of humidified tobacco powder under the upper lip for a period of time. 

While the sale of snus is banned in the rest of the European Union, Sweden negotiated an amendment to its EU entry requirements in 1995.

Snus

So why the change of heart ?

After Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Denmark, Sweden will become the 8th European country to ban flavours in e-liquids.

According to some experts, if the bill is adopted by the Swedish parliament, 150,000 people could potentially go back to smoking cigarettes. 

What a setback for this exemplary country !

If Sweden is now opting for this radical change in its anti-smoking policy, it's because it's caving into EU pressure, which is itself under the WHO's diktat.

World Health Organisation

The WHO is openly hostile to smoking alternatives such as vaping and snus. The European Union is simply seeking to comply with the WHO recommendations set in its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

In its 2021 report on the application of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD 2014/40/EU), the European Commission clearly states : “The Tobacco Products Directive...aims at...meeting the EU obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.”

Conclusion

The forced standardisation of health policies within the European Union (sorry, harmonisation !) under the supervision of the almighty WHO and without taking into consideration the results already achieved in some countries such as Sweden, is criminal nonsense. 

Thank you for reading. 

The Sweetch Team