A petition demanding that the Spanish Health Ministry meet vapers and consumers of other safer nicotine products has gained over 2,000 signatures in just one week.
It comes after Spanish Health Minister - Javier Padilla, of the ultra left-wing Podemos party - refused to meet with local consumer group ANESVAP and accused them of representing commercial interests.
Padilla provided no evidence to support his accusation, and ANESVAP strongly rejects any accusation that it represents commercial interests.
The Ministry of Health is rumoured to be introducing a comprehensive tobacco control plan in the next few weeks, despite the fact that no public consultation has been announced or appears to be imminent.
Padilla also claims that the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control prohibits the Ministry from meeting ANESVAP. This contrasts with the approach in most other countries which have signed the Treaty such as the UK.
The petition, hosted on change.org, remains open for signatures. There are more than half a million Spaniards who have quit smoking completely using vaping.
ANESVAP claims it first tried to meet representatives of the Ministry of Health in November last year.
“Even though there are thousands of vapers in Spain, we are not listened to”, reads the text of the petition. “Those responsible for the health of this country simply refuse to hear us”.
The petition also demands that the Spanish Government open a public consultation on any proposed tobacco control plan. Public consultations are normal practice in Spain, and take place on the majority of proposed legislative actions.
Anyone can sign the petition.
