EXCLUSIVE: EU health chief 100% convinced new products as harmful as cigarettes
December 19, 2025 by euractiv.com
EXCLUSIVE: EU health chief 100% convinced new products as harmful as cigarettes
EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi stated that alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches are just as harmful as traditional cigarettes, rejecting claims that they are safer. He cited recent data linking these products to cardiovascular risks and warned that their impact may be even worse among young people. A new report shows vaping in the EU increased by 45%, reaching 4% of people aged 15 and over in 2024, raising concerns about the spread of new nicotine habits.