A record public response to the EU’s “Call for Evidence”

Last month Northerner reported that the European Commission had opened an evaluation of the legislative framework for tobacco control. The consultation closed on the 17th of June with a record number of almost 25,000 contributions from experts and consumers from all European countries.

Huge public response

On the 20^th of May, the European Commission opened a “Call for Evidence” to analyze to what extent the legislative framework for tobacco control has fulfilled its goals and whether it will sustain a tobacco-free generation by 2040, as announced in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. On average, calls of this length receive around 350 submissions. This time the EU commission witnessed participation of nearly 25,000 people, making it the most frequently answered EU consultation to this day, according to EU Political Report.

Nearly unanimous support for harm reduction

An overwhelming majority of contributions submitted favour tobacco harm reduction products. More than 90% of the submissions came from EU-citizens, who called on the EU to adopt a harm reduction approach to nicotine products.
Haypp Group, parent company of Northerner and the world’s largest e-retailer of nicotine products, also participated in this consultation, supporting millions of people who quit smoking using reduced-risk products. In the submission,

Haypp Group emphasized a need for a regulatory framework on the EU level for nicotine pouches. Nicotine pouches have transformed smoking habits in the markets where they are sold and there are significant public health benefits to be gained by adopting a product-specific regulatory framework for the products and that the products are allowed on the EU market.

The people have spoken. It's time for the Commission to listen. The massive interest in the issue is a testament to the power of the consumer’s voice.

Thank you for responding to the consultation! Let’s continue to do all we can to keep safer alternatives to smoking accessible.

What’s next?

The Call for Evidence is the first of three consultations that will make up the evaluation. Following the Call for Evidence, the European Commission will hold a public consultation in the fourth quarter of 2022 and anticipates adoption in the second quarter of 2023.

The contributions can be accessed here.

Read Haypp Group’s full submission here.

the editorial office Published 2022-08-16