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The European Commission has announced that it wants to ban flavored tobacco for heating devices in all European countries. An announcement linked to the still poorly known consequences on the health of users, the figures of which quickly exploded throughout Europe.
The European Commission is attacking flavored versions of heated tobacco. This type of tobacco-based product is enjoying increasing success, particularly among young people. But many experts consider them to be a gateway to smoking.
Why this ban?
These sticks compete with electronic cigarettes and are above all more harmful, in particular because of the heating system. According to the manufacturers who market this type of product, the device placed around the cigarette reduces the harmful effects of combustion as well as harmful smoke. Whereas in fact, on the contrary, the smoker inhales the same dose of nicotine.
In addition, other chemicals would be released during its use. Shady parts remain concerning the health consequences of this type of product and the release of potentially harmful elements. The announcement of this ban therefore follows the same logic as that of menthol cigarettes in 2020.
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Electronic cigarettes are not affected
This future ban therefore does not apply to electronic cigarettes and their liquids. According to a spokesman for the EU executive, Stefan De Keersmaecker, “the banning of flavorings for these liquids is a decision to be taken by the Member States, it is not covered by our proposal today”.
It is indeed the flavored versions of heated tobacco that are in the sights of the European authorities, all the more concerned about the issue as the consumption of this type of product has exploded almost everywhere in Europe, with an exponential increase in sales in France, Portugal or the Netherlands between 2018 and 2020.
Proposal of the European Commission will now be examined by a committee of experts, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.