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EU Member States have today agreed not to push for bans on safer nicotine products at the WHO’s bi-annual tobacco control summit, COP 11, after a large group of countries refused to accept the Commission’s original proposal which would have included such bans.
Led by Member States whose populations (and smoking rates) have benefited from safer nicotine products, the 27 Member bloc rejected the Commission’s proposal which (as we revealed on CTA last month) which would have included support for”strong regulation of ENDS/ENNDS and nicotine pouches, which could include a ban”.
The new text, agreed by EU Ambassadors, now offers support to “comprehensive regulatory measures”, while the word “ban” has been banned. (Sorry, ed.). A group of pro harm-reduction Member States led by Italy, Greece and Sweden held out to ensure that the language was removed.
Commission and WHO furious
The European Commission, whose initial text also foresaw support for a ban on cigarette filters that has since been removed, appears furious that Member States have undermined them. Last week Sandra Gallina, the Director General of DG SANTE, which oversees tobacco policy for the EU Commission, told EU Ambassadors that some countries were under the influence of big tobacco, according to sources familiar with the meeting.
The EU will now be unable to vote in favour of COP resolutions that include language that provides a permission structure for product bans.
The news will also infuriate WHO bureaucrats, who held a poorly attended press conference yesterday (that we live tweeted) which opened with a call for tough action on safer nicotine products, rather than cigarettes. The EU’s inability to sign off on its pet policy desires will make them near-impossible to get approved when the WHO’s tobacco control conference takes place on Monday of next week.
No filter ban either
The initial Commission proposal also called for consideration to be given to banning filters on cigarettes, but this provision has also been removed; as has the EU’s support for a report on “forward looking measures” which also includes proposals for a generational nicotine ban.
However, some EU Member States are unhappy, with Belgium planning to go on the offensive at a public webinar from COP hosted by Deputy PM and Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke.
