European Public Health Experts Urge EU Commission to Correct Course on Smoke-Free Nicotine Policy
Experts Challenge Statements by EU Health Chief
In a direct challenge to Brussels’ regulatory stance, a group of approximately 30 researchers from universities and institutes across Europe cautioned that inaccurate risk assessments from high-level officials risk severely harming public health outcomes.
The open letter specifically targets assertions made by EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, who stated that vaping devices, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco systems are as harmful as combustible cigarettes. According to the signatories, these statements lack empirical backing and create dangerous misconceptions for consumers seeking lower-risk alternatives.
Scientific Distinction: Combustion vs. Non-Combustion
The coalition emphasized that public health strategy must distinguish between combustible and non-combustible products based on their chemical profiles:
Combustible Cigarettes: Burning tobacco releases smoke containing roughly 7,000 chemicals, including at least 158 toxic or carcinogenic compounds responsible for the vast majority of smoking-induced illnesses.
Non-Combustible Alternatives: E-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco operate without combustion. While not risk-free, laboratory studies confirm their emissions contain significantly lower concentrations of harmful toxicants.
Dr. Garrett McGovern, an addiction specialist supporting the letter, noted that equating the health consequences of smokeless alternatives with smoking is a fundamental distortion of established medical data.
Declining Risk Perception and Regulatory Risks
The open letter highlights a growing gap between scientific consensus and public understanding, referencing recent survey data showing a dramatic rise in the proportion of adults who incorrectly view e-cigarettes as equally or more harmful than cigarettes. Public misperceptions—often fueled by ambiguous official communications—can actively deter adult smokers from switching to less harmful products or even trigger a relapse to combustible tobacco.
The researchers warn that if upcoming legislative revisions—such as the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and the Taxation of Excise Duties (TED) framework—fail to reflect risk differentials, European policy will entrench smoking habits rather than accelerate their decline. With smoking accounting for nearly 700,000 deaths annually in the EU, the signatories urge the Commission to ground its upcoming regulatory framework in evidence-based harm reduction.