The future of vaping - where do we stand today?
Thorough and at times heated debates took place in Brussels yesterday afternoon. "Harm reduction is the key" - Czech envoy Jindřich Vobořil stated firmly in a resounding speech at the parliament on Tuesday.
Prohibitions and moral preaching are raining down around us vapers. It is claimed in some forums that neither you nor I have received help to quit smoking through vaping. We can leave it unsaid how things really stand on that issue, as it can easily become repetitive and long-winded. One thing is certain, however: we vapers really have to fight for our cause and to keep our e-liquids & vape products.
Of course, we were seated and ready to take part in the debate.
Yesterday, Wednesday 12/10, there was a debate in Brussels concerning nicotine products, their harmful effects and their future. The questions addressed were whether there can be room for the "harm-reduction" approach in the EU's future new directive regarding nicotine products. How should we view tobacco-free snus? How should we regulate vape / e-cigarettes in the future? Can we achieve harmonised laws within the EU that can help you as a smoker / ex-smoker to remain smoke-free or take the first step? Someone who was very active during the debate was the Czech coordinator, Jindřich Vobořil, who argued for the future of vaping. "If the new European directive on tobacco products (Tpd) does not take into account the reduction of harm from smoking, it will cause the deaths of many people without any real reason."
Sweden's representative Sara Skyttedal (KD) hopes for and argues in favour of harm reduction with the help of vape products. According to the parliamentarian, the major problem is that lawmakers have chosen to combat addiction, rather than combat cancer and diseases resulting from tobacco use. "Changing the pattern of nicotine consumption would be an enormous gain for public health".
Electronic cigarettes and other alternative products can do precisely that, as long as lawmakers remove the ideological blinkers. We are seeing a reduction in tobacco smoking in virtually the entire world, and new, significantly less harmful products have taken their place. This naturally creates concern among the tobacco giants, who are doing everything they can to preserve their financial interests. Hopefully, the future can change both them and their businesses, as well as the general view of vaping.
Jindřich, who from the outset had clear arguments, "Addiction - he explained - does not kill, and nicotine is no more dangerous than caffeine. It is combustion that kills", said Jindřich and continued: ""If we really must have European legislation - Vobořil concluded - it must promote all alternatives to smoking (e-cigarettes, snus,) as the primary way to help smokers. Harm reduction - he explained - is the key". However, Jindřich did not gloss over the problems surrounding this. The economic interests of individual, large countries weigh heavily in issues concerning tobacco. Naturally, they want to safeguard their financial interests.
So what is the future of vaping?
After the debate, we are cautiously positive. There are strong forces on the side that is IN FAVOUR of vaping. But there are also major opponents driven by financial interests. We believe that the future, research and science will show that we have taken the right position on the issue. That it is possible to minimise harm. That total bans are directly harmful. We are positive that it is being debated and hopefully decisions will be made based on evidence.
Until then, we will continue moving forward!
/happy vaping, your friends at cigge
