Germans Attack Harm Reduction
The German Medical Association is attempting to drive a tank through tobacco harm reduction by calling for a complete ban on e-liquid flavours
-
by Dave Cross
Share on:
The German Medical Association, BÄK, has issued a call to ban all e-liquid flavours in a statement following the announcement of a planned amendment to the Tobacco Products Act and the Tobacco Products Ordinance. The Association claims that such a move is necessary in order to prevent nicotine addiction.
The Tobacco Products Act and the Tobacco Products Ordinance amendment plans to eliminate flavours for heated tobacco products (HTPs) but the German Medical Association wants this extended to include all juices in or for vape devices.
BVRA e. V. says: “In doing so, it not only reveals simple problems of understanding, but also argues in contradiction to the current state of research.
“In its press release, the BÄK speaks of ‘added flavourings’. This is of course a correct description for tobacco heaters or other tobacco products. However, this statement makes no sense for e-cigarettes.
“It's like saying an engine has been added to a car. Flavours are an integral part of liquids for e-cigarettes, there is simply no basic flavour without flavour addition. This can only be compared with tobacco products to a very limited extent, so of course the legislator must clearly differentiate here.”
The German Medical Association claims added flavours play a large role in making nicotine products such as e-cigarettes attractive to young people.
BVRA e. V. contends that it is due to the variety of flavours that vape products work so well as a quit tool for smokers of all ages.
BVRA e. V. said: “In our July 2022 consumer survey, almost 98% of 1,771 respondents said they were a smoker before using e-cigarettes. Only 2.26% said they had never smoked before.
“These numbers are consistent with all reliable scientific surveys on consumer behavior. In another Europe-wide consumer survey, 70% of 6,283 respondents from Germany stated that the existing variety of flavours played a decisive role in stopping smoking and switching.
“Without this diversity, many would probably have remained smokers - with all the negative and often fatal consequences.”
The consumer group went on to add: “A ban on flavours for e-cigarettes would therefore hardly change the consumption figures among young people but would prevent adult smokers from switching and thus from a potential improvement in their state of health.”
BVRA e. V. appealed to the German Medical Association to take a more pragmatic stance on the matter.
References:
- Bundesärztekammer auf Irrweg - https://bvra.info/aktuell/bundesaerztekammer-auf-irrweg/
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
Join the discussion
Parliament Fears Two
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs faced questions from a Conservative MP and, oddly, a member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
-
by Dave Cross
Harm Reduction For The Rich
The United Kingdom risks becoming a harm reduction country only for the wealthy, according to Michael Landl of the World Vapers’ Alliance
-
by Dave Cross
Sacrificing Health For 2p Cut
Tory Government alienates vaping voters with its mission to cut tax by an unaffordable 2p to attract voters by placing a tax on vape products in the forthcoming budget
-
by Dave Cross
Scotland Announces Single-Use Vape Action
A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland is due to come into effect on 1 April 2025, under proposed legislation published today
-
by Dave Cross
