Read articles from Europe

June 05, 2026 by snusforumet.se

An international group urges European nicotine consumers to engage in discussions shaping the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD3) in the European Union. They emphasize the need for consumer involvement to ensure policies prioritize health outcomes and consider harm reduction. The group advocates for a framework based on scientific evidence, transparency, and risk proportionality. Policymakers are encouraged to recognize the impact of regulations on smoking cessation and product choices. The importance of consumer empowerment and inclusion in policy decisions is highlighted, with a call for stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing consultation process before the June 15th deadline.

June 05, 2026 by theparliamentmagazine.eu

Sweden has 41% fewer cancer cases than the EU average despite similar nicotine consumption. World Vapers' Alliance's Michael Landl highlights this, sparking debate on tobacco regulation. Sweden achieved low smoking rates through harm reduction using snus, vapes, and pouches. The EU's approach to nicotine harm is questioned, with misinformation hindering smoking cessation efforts. The Commission's stance disregards experts' warnings on reduced-risk products. Proposals for stricter regulations ignore evidence and consumer input. The EU's history of ineffective bans and Sweden's success with harm reduction reveal flaws in current tobacco policies.

June 05, 2026 by skynews.com.au

Australia's severe tobacco black market problem is termed a "total failure of policy" after Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a 40% increase in national nicotine consumption from 2017 to 2025, with illicit products making up 80% of tobacco use. This far surpasses similar data from European nations, Canada, and New Zealand. Former police detective Rohan Pike criticized public health advocates, stating that Australia's anti-tobacco policies are flawed and ineffective, and suggested a fresh approach. KPMG reports show varying rates of illegal tobacco consumption in European markets, Canada, and Latin America, emphasizing the prevalence of contraband products globally. FTI Consulting noted a significant 27.2% of illicit tobacco consumption in New Zealand in 2024.

June 03, 2026 by news-medical.net

TikTok attracts youth with rule-breaking vape videos over credible health info, posing a challenge for public health. Illicit vaping rises among UK youth, with TikTok normalizing and glamorizing it. Regulatory efforts struggle to curb underage access to harmful vape products containing undisclosed substances. Research contrasts TikTok's positive portrayal of illicit vaping with educational resources' serious approach. TikTok videos garner millions of likes, fostering an illicit vaping subculture, while health resources lack engagement due to format issues. Youth exposure to TikTok content may normalize risky behaviors, underscoring the need for impactful, youth-targeted messaging to combat rising illicit vaping trends effectively.

June 02, 2026 by planetofthevapes.co.uk

Planned EU tax increases on smoke-free nicotine products are criticised for undermining the fight against smoking. Heavy excise duties on vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches could make safer alternatives less affordable and less attractive to adults who smoke. Tax policy is described as needing to reflect the different levels of risk between combustible cigarettes and non-combustible products. Excessive taxation may also widen the gap between legal and illicit markets, encouraging smuggling and weakening both public health and government revenues. Sweden’s experience is used to argue that safer alternatives should remain accessible, acceptable and affordable if Europe wants to reduce smoking.

June 02, 2026 by clearingtheair.eu

EU health policy is criticised for becoming increasingly political, confused and disconnected from evidence on tobacco harm reduction. Recent statements on nicotine products are challenged for treating vaping, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches as though they carry the same risks as cigarettes. Concerns about youth use are presented as being stretched across overly broad age groups, including adults who may benefit from access to safer alternatives. The EU consultation process is also criticised for grouping lower-risk products with combustible tobacco and making it difficult to support risk-proportionate regulation. A more credible approach would recognise the role of smoke-free nicotine products in reducing smoking and allow consumers, including former smokers, to be properly heard.

June 01, 2026 by 2firsts.com

Experts believe the EU should consider the role of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches in helping smokers quit. They caution against overly strict regulations, emphasizing the importance of adult smoker preferences. The decline in smoking rates is credited to various factors, not just EU regulations. The evaluation focuses on absolute risk, but experts stress the need to compare alternatives to continued smoking. They advocate for proportional regulations, warning against blanket bans or low nicotine limits that could deter smokers from switching to safer options. Scientists and consumer input are vital in shaping future policies. Policymakers should balance youth protection with adult cessation needs and conduct transparent, inclusive evidence-based discussions.

June 01, 2026 by junonews.com

Sweden is presented as a real-world example of how smoking rates can fall when adults are given access to safer nicotine alternatives. Rather than trying to eliminate nicotine entirely, the Swedish approach focuses on moving people away from combustible cigarettes and towards smoke-free products such as snus and nicotine pouches. The World Health Organization’s warnings about these products are criticised as overly moralistic, especially when cigarettes remain widely available in many countries. Canada is used as a contrasting example, where smoke-free nicotine products are heavily restricted while cigarettes can still be bought easily. The piece argues that public health should focus less on fear of nicotine itself and more on reducing the harms caused by smoking.

May 29, 2026 by euractiv.com

Sweden’s opposition to the EU tobacco tax reform is adding further pressure to an already contested debate over nicotine taxation and national policy autonomy. The proposal would raise minimum excise duties on cigarettes while also introducing EU-level minimum taxes for newer products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Critics argue that applying steep or poorly differentiated taxes to lower-risk nicotine products could weaken harm reduction incentives and reduce the price advantage that helps smokers move away from combustible tobacco. The dispute highlights wider tensions between harmonised EU fiscal policy, Member State sovereignty, illicit trade concerns and evidence-based regulation built around relative risk.

May 29, 2026 by theparliamentmagazine.eu

The EU’s review of tobacco and nicotine regulation is placing renewed attention on whether consumer perspectives are being meaningfully included in policymaking. Harm reduction advocates argue that people who use safer nicotine products have direct experience of switching away from combustible tobacco and should not be excluded from decisions that affect their choices. The debate highlights concerns that regulation shaped without consumer input may overlook real-world behaviour, risk perception and the practical barriers smokers face when trying to quit. A more evidence-based policy process would recognise lived experience as a necessary part of understanding how nicotine regulation affects public health outcomes.