The European Union’s Subcommittee on Public Health (SANT) has endorsed the potential role of vaping in supporting smoking cessation.
Parliament’s report on non-communicable diseases acknowledges that vaping is a way for smokers to quit smoking combustible cigarettes gradually. However, the SANT’s recommendation to ban vaping in some public areas has sparked debate and concern.
Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, said Parliament’s recognition that vaping can help smokers quit is a step in the right direction.
“With the well-documented success of vaping as a smoking cessation aid, it’s crucial for the EU to fully embrace this tool within its strategy to reduce smoking-related illnesses,” he said. “Vaping not only offers a way out for smokers but is instrumental in achieving public health goals.”
Despite this recognition, the report’s proposal to extend smoking bans to vaping is seen as problematic, according to Landl.
“Treating vaping the same as smoking in public spaces sends the wrong message to smokers who want to quit. There is no evidence of harm from secondhand vaping,” Landl said. “The Subcommittee must reconsider the broader impact, including the risk of former smokers relapsing. A more thoughtful regulatory approach based on common sense is imperative to ensure that vaping remains a viable option for those committed to quitting cigarettes.”