This guest post from Robert Casinge, Editor-in-Chief of pouchforum.eu, was originally published here
Like everyone working with policy in Brussels, Pouchforum has followed the hearings of the designated commissioners closely. When dealing with a specific issue like nicotine pouches, one must stay attentive, as any mention of the product may come in a passing reference or as too often happens, as part of a broader category of products that share only minimal similarities—such as being labelled as “novel.” What is directly related to the specific topic and what are more general statements is most often open for debate since the designates want to give sufficiently clear answers to respond to the questions from the committee without being to detailed or pre-emptive.
The hearing of Olivér Várhelyi, the designated European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, was another example of this guessing game for anyone following nicotine pouch legislation. After a detailed review of the readouts, we have reached several conclusions. Chiefly, the future of nicotine pouches—and, by extension, the options for cigarette smokers in Europe seeking lower-risk alternatives—will likely depend on Mr. Várhelyi’s commitment to approaching his role with a strong focus on achieving measurable results.
While we cannot fully know the intentions of the commissioner-designate, we noted Mr. Várhelyi’s response on novel products:
“New products, the vape, the electronic cigarettes, the nicotine packets—they also pose a risk. For example, if you look at the nicotine levels consumed through these products, the numbers are staggering compared to the traditional products, as the industry calls them. So, I think we also have to look into this question. But first, let’s have an open dialogue about this before we make any decision, and approach this from a health perspective.
We believe it is reasonable to interpret this response as impacted by a long-standing concern shared by NNPA and Pouchforum: the need for a limit on nicotine content to remove extreme products from the market. We welcome Mr. Várhelyi’s call for open dialogue and, in particular, his emphasis on addressing this issue from a health perspective.
Mr. Várhelyi further emphasized the need for a strong health union and announced a major focus on preventive health, particularly targeting cancer and cardiovascular diseases, with substantial investments planned over the next five years. It is clearly expressed that Várhelyi views tobacco as the single largest health risk, describing it as a root cause that must be addressed. He also highlighted the importance of evaluating rules regarding youth access to new products.
Given how some Member States have approached these issues, we interpret Mr. Várhelyi’s statements with some caution. However, we also note that the European Parliament’s Beating Cancer report included clear support for harm reduction. If a forthcoming cardiovascular disease (CVD) initiative follows suit, an updated Tobacco Products Directive would need to consider the vast differences in risk between smoking cigarettes and using reduced-risk products. This would be most welcome news for anyone who has seen the example of the Nordic countries and done the math indicating what the potential benefits would be if available for the rest of EUs more than 80 million smokers.
Nicotine pouches are neither carcinogenic nor inhaled
While both cigarettes and nicotine pouches contain nicotine, which can contribute to elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and vascular constriction, the primary cardiovascular risks of smoking come from combustion byproducts—namely, carbon monoxide and oxidizing chemicals—that significantly raise the risk of atherosclerosis, blood clot formation, and chronic inflammation. Although nicotine pouches may carry a minimal cardiovascular risk relative to non-use, they are considerably safer for the cardiovascular system than smoking. If anyone is to take a preventive CVD plan seriously, it would have to include the most powerful tools to tackle present preventable risk for both CVD and cancer risk. There has been no other strategy or product with a better proven track record than nicotine pouches. We strongly believe the reason for the major shifts in tobacco risk where nicotine pouches are available is that they are one of the few changes driven by consumer demand.
As the EU moves forward with plans for preventive health and a stronger Health Union, it is vital that the role of nicotine pouches in harm reduction and public health is carefully assessed. By incorporating reduced-risk products into the broader strategy for combating cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as pulmonary diseases, the EU has an opportunity to leverage a powerful, consumer-driven shift toward safer nicotine alternatives. We hope that Commissioner Várhelyi and his team will give the proper consideration the compelling evidence from harm reduction successes in the Nordic countries, making nicotine pouches part of a forward-thinking, science-based approach to tobacco risk management across Europe. In this way, the new Health Commissioner can truly make a difference for millions of EU smokers seeking a safer path.
