Read articles from Europe

March 25, 2024 by euractiv.com

The French, parliament reached an agreement on Thursday (21 March) to ban so-called ‘puffs’, single-use electronic cigarettes. The prohibition will be expected to come into force, at the end of September, according to Green MP Francesca Pasquini, who initiated the law. The text was widely adopted by the National Assembly in December and then ratified by the French Senate in February. The final stage was to convene a joint committee, bringing together members of parliament from both chambers. The committee reached a joint text without difficulty.

March 22, 2024 by thetimes.co.uk

People who vape suffer similar changes to their DNA as smokers who develop cancer, researchers have revealed. Scientists at University College London analysed samples of cheek cells from vape users and compared these with those from cigarette smokers. Both groups had similar changes to the DNA of cells in their mouth. These changes were, in turn, linked to the future development of lung cancer in smokers.

March 22, 2024 by dailysabah.com

Scientists in Austria found evidence that smoking e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes have a similar effect on cells. The University of Innsbruck published the study in the journal, Cancer Research, analyzing the molecular effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes on the epigenome of the information in various cells. They said the epigenome can change during a lifetime due to various genetic and non-genetic factors, such as aging or lifestyle. Scientists looked at more than 5,300 samples from 4,000 people for indications about how smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes affects different cells. They included blood samples, mouth swabs and samples from the cervical area of women.

March 22, 2024 by tvpworld.com

Poland’s Ministry of Health is working on a bill banning the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, with a view to having the legislation ready in April, the health minister, Izabela Leszczyna, said on Thursday. Leszczyna was asked at a press conference when the law, which was announced in late February, would be ready. “I discussed this subject exactly a month ago with the prime minister and got the green light,” she said, adding that single-use e-cigarettes are currently “the greatest threat, especially to young people,” who under existing laws should not be allowed to buy them.

March 20, 2024 by independent.ie

More than 75pc of vapers say a ban of flavouring could lead to more young people smoking, with one in five ex-smokers saying they would also pick the habit back up if flavours were banned. It has been an offence to sell a nicotine-inhaling product to someone under the age of 18 since December, with Government plans for a restriction on the use of flavouring set to follow. A new survey from Red C Research and Marketing shows 90pc of vapers surveyed believe an overall ban could lead to a black market for flavoured vapes. Almost half said they would source flavours from outside Ireland if it was introduced, with 71pc believing smokers would be less inclined to take up vaping to quit.

March 20, 2024 by clivebates.com

The government set a “smoke-free” goal to reduce smoking to below 5% by 2030. This is a good idea. It would always be a challenge and require an acceleration of progress for the remainder of the decade. But it would inevitably rely heavily on smokers switching to safer alternatives to smoking, such as vaping, nicotine pouches and smoke-free tobacco products. Instead of going all-in on promoting switching, the government has instead introduced a pointless but controversial headline measure on smoking and a range of policies that will suppress the uptake of vaping by smokers.

March 20, 2024 by gfn.tv

The European Union is currently deliberating its regulatory approach to safer nicotine products as it reviews its Tobacco Products Directive. In a bid to ensure consumer voices are not lost amongst these discussions, the World Vapers' Alliance is bringing a petition before the European Parliament to reaffirm the need for proportionate regulation of safer products. In this episode of GFN News, the WVA's Director Michael Landl fills us in on these efforts to boost the consumer voice in Europe.

March 20, 2024 by telegraph.co.uk

Rishi Sunak has vowed to “stop our kids getting hooked on nicotine” – as a study has found for the first time that vaping damages mouth cells in the same way as cigarettes. Changes in the make-up of the cells in the cheek lining, which have been linked to cancer, are the same for those using vapes as cigarettes, scientists have discovered. The revelation comes as the Prime Minister is set to introduce a landmark ban on smoking and new restrictions on vapes to Parliament on Wednesday.

March 20, 2024 by www.gov.uk

Millions of smokers want to quit, but cannot due to an addiction to nicotine that started at a young age. It is an addiction they know could well kill them, but is now trapping them. Over 80% of smokers start before the age of 20, many as children, after persistent marketing. Starting smoking feels easy- stopping it later once nicotine has got its grip is really hard with the great majority of people who smoke wishing they had never started. For too many smoking becomes a lifelong, life limiting, deeply regretted addiction. To be pro individual choice should mean being against deliberate addiction of children, young people and young adults to something that will harm them, potentially fatally.

March 19, 2024 by express.co.uk

The Express understands that Downing Street is looking to bring its flagship anti-smoking legislation before Parliament next week, in a rush to disprove allegations that the Government isn’t working hard enough. Mr Sunak hopes to pass the legislation, which will stop anyone born after 2008 from ever legally being allowed to buy tobacco, as a sign he is enacting change before the general election. However amid swirling concerns about his leadership, the crunch vote will only serve to underline the Tory party’s deep-rooted splits over policy and ideology