Critics: "Denmark's new law could affect roads throughout the EU"
The Danish government wants to ban almost all flavours in e-cigarettes and e-liquids. This was decided by the Danish Parliament at the end of 2019. But first, the law must be approved by the EU Commission.
Now the organisation ETHRA is calling on road users from across the EU to protest.
"70,000 Danish road users are at risk of starting to smoke again. The Danish government chooses to ignore a large group of people without considering the consequences," ETHRA, the European Tobacco Harm Reduction Association, writes in a press release.
Sum Road hill previously reported, all flavours except menthol and tobacco will be removed from the Danish market. According to the Danish government, the flavour ban is primarily to prevent young people from starting to use e-cigarettes.
But according to Dansk Damper Forening (DADAFO) and ETHRA, the bill is a weak tool for changing the habits of Danish youth - at least on a larger scale.
"Most young people who vape are either already smokers or former smokers. At best, it prevents 1,200 young people from starting to use e-cigarettes every year. As a consequence, 70,000 vapers will return to smoking," writes the organisation.
Dogmatic approach to smoking cessation
At the same time, the ban risks driving 90 % of Danish vape shops out of business, according to ETHRA. This means that many adult vapers will lose a key method for quitting smoking. What remains is either an uncontrolled black market or the authorities' own recommendations for smoking cessation.
"The Danish health authorities have a very dogmatic approach to smoking cessation. It's 'stop or die'. They only recommend nicotine medicines or prescription drugs like Champix and Zyban. Harm-reducing alternatives such as e-cigarettes are simply seen as an obstacle," ETHRA writes.
Risk of a black market for e-cigarettes
According to ETHRA, e-cigarette users who want to continue using flavours will be forced to buy them abroad or turn to the black market.
"The proposal will force many Danish road smokers to either break the law or start smoking again," writes the organisation.
Call to write to the EU Commission
In May, the EU will discuss a possible revision of the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive), which regulates member states' legislation on tobacco and similar products. In this context, the Danish flavour ban will also be on the agenda.
The question is whether the Danish flavour ban is compatible with the overall EU directives. Although the EU does not currently regulate flavours in the TPD, it may be enough for a few countries to implement a ban for the directive to be amended in the future, ETHRA points out.
"Finland, Estonia and Hungary have already introduced bans. It is extremely important that associations, businesses and consumers who want to keep vaping as an alternative to cigarettes react and send their views to the European Commission," ETHRA writes.
