This briefing outlines a number of simple measures that could be taken to improve regulation to encourage the use of reduced-risk nicotine products among smokers.
The European Commission is asking for feedback on its Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). The call for evidence closes on 17 June 2022 and is intended to ‘assess to what extent the framework has fulfilled its goals and whether it is able to support a “Tobacco-Free Generation” by 2040’. A new TPD is likely to be proposed and brought into law in the next few years.
In September 2020, the EU’s Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) published a preliminary opinion (SCHEER 2020) on electronic cigarettes which assesses the risks associated with vaping products and is designed to alert the European Commission to the “potential need for legislative amendments” to the Tobacco Products Directive.
The 2021 edition of the Nanny State Index, which has been expanded to 30 countries in Europe, shows that Germany has taken the top spot as the freest country.
While the EU has been criticised for its lack of preparation, guidance, and strong unified response amidst the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the arrival of vaccines offered Brussels yet another chance to prove the benefits of close cooperation and demonstrate leadership.
A report published by the European Commission on 3 February 2021 proposes a range of nanny state interventions intended to reduce the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and ‘unhealthy food’ (European Commission 2021).
The way obesity is measured throughout the EU and OECD countries is significantly flawed. This paper shows that existing international comparisons measuring obesity are flawed as a result of inaccurate data being compiled on a national level.