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Big Tobacco pushes nicotine pouches as vaping hit by curbs
Writing for Bloomberg UK, reporter Dasha Afanasieva, explores how Big Tobacco are promoting nicotine pouches in the UK with free samples online and at summer music festivals.
“A few clicks on the website of British American Tobacco Plc’s Velo brand and a consumer in the UK can order a sample can of Polar Mint, Ruby Berry or Tropical Breeze nicotine pouches. Japan Tobacco International plans to give them away at the Isle of Wight and Creamfields music festivals later this year”, writes Afanasieva.
Afanasieva highlights that, unlike cigarettes and vapes, it is legal to sell nicotine pouches to under-18s in the UK. However, there is growing concern about uptake amongst young people, as the government is set to crack down on under-age sales of cigarettes and vapes.
It’s “outrageous” that companies can legally hand out free nicotine pouches to minors, says Deborah Arnott, chief executive ASH. “For over two years, ASH and academic experts have been urging the government to address the massive loopholes,” she said, adding that regulations are failing to keep up with new nicotine product categories.
The author also highlights that whilst nicotine pouches are thought to be less harmful than smoking,
there is some evidence they may not be risk-free.
Currently, nicotine pouches are only regulated under general consumer product safety regulations and whilst Big Tobacco companies claim to work to “their own voluntary agreement”, Deborah Arnott states, “voluntary codes of practice never work”.
The article closes with a direct quote from Deborah Arnott, “Big Tobacco cannot be relied on to police itself”.
Source: Bloomberg UK, 15 April 2023
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Netherlands: Changing the colour of cigarettes could 'put people off smoking'
Cigarettes should be made darker to put people off starting smoking, a Dutch health watchdog has said.
Changing the colour from white, which suggests safety, would make cigarettes less attractive, according to a report by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
The move would require a change in the law in the Netherlands, where cigarettes must legally be white, however.
The Dutch government has a target of no children and only 5% of people over 18 smoking by 2040.
“White is associated with a safer product,” researchers said, “but darker colours suggest a stronger taste and more damage to health.” The authority also suggested health warnings could be put on the cigarettes themselves, as well as the packet, in its review of existing research.
Among other proposals put forward for consideration in the report was a ban on ingredients, such as sugar or flavourings, that make cigarettes more appealing to new smokers.
The research will be used to inform anti-smoking policies in the Netherlands, where more than 19,000 people a year die from smoking-related illnesses. However, some of the recommendations would have to be decided in Brussels, where the European Commission is planning new proposals to reduce smoking for next year.
Source: The Telegraph, 17 April 2023
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US: NIH says halving cancer deaths by 2047 is 'impossible' based on current trends
Halving cancer deaths by 2047 will be 'impossible' based on current trends, Government health chiefs in the US have said.
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said the current rate of decline of cancer
deaths is 2.3% per year. But it would need to be at 2.7% to achieve President Joe Biden's Cancer Moonshot goal, announced last February, of reducing the rate by 50% in 25 years.
The researchers said the lack of equal access to cancer-related healthcare must be addressed if there is to be any hope of reaching the goal. Data shows cancer death rates have fallen 33% since 1991, averting 3.8 million deaths, but it is not enough
Dr Monica Bertagnolli, director of the National Cancer Institute, who co-authored an accompanying commentary to the study, said: “Achieving a 50% reduction in cancer mortality in 25 years will be impossible without addressing cancer health equity.”
The researchers suggested opportunities to get closer to the Cancer Moonshot, including reducing smoking and obesity.
Source: Daily Mail, 17 April 2023
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Parliamentary questions
PQ1: Electronic cigarettes – children
Asked by Justin Madders, Labour, Ellesmere Port and Neston
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential health risks of e-cigarettes for children.
Answered by Neil O'Brien, Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
The Department’s assessment of the risk of vaping is based upon a series of evidence reviews commissioned over the past several years. The latest, ‘Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence main findings’, was published in September 2022.
The report concludes that in the short and medium term, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking, but that vaping is not risk-free. Nicotine is highly addictive and can be harmful, and there are unanswered questions on the effects of longer-term use.
The Government is clear that vaping should only be used to help adults quit smoking; vapes should not be used by people under 18 or non-smokers.
Source: Hansard, 17 April 2023
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PQ2: Tobacco – Smuggling
Asked by Mr Virendra Sharma, Labour, Ealing, Southall
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2022 to Question 94724 on tobacco smuggling, when he expects secondary legislation to be introduced to extend the powers from HMRC to trading standards to provide on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 to retailers selling illicit tobacco.
Answered by James Cartlidge, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
HMRC are not extending powers to Trading Standards to provide on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 to retailers selling illicit tobacco. The new sanctions for illicit tobacco will be administered by HMRC based on referrals from Trading Standards. This referral model has been developed and is supported by all parties.
Source: Hansard, 17 April 2023
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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