´The SCENIHR report provides valuable new insights with important implications for current European public health policy’, said Tomas Hammargren, chairman of ESTOC. ‘The confirmation that snus is not associated with an increased risk of oral cancer removes one of the main justifications for the EU ban imposed back in 1992. This opinion from the EU’s most qualified experts’ leaves no doubt that continuation of the ban is unjustified on scientific and health grounds. The report merits careful consideration and constitutes an excellent basis for dialogue on better regulation of the smokeless tobacco sector. ´
The report cites evidence that the prevalent use of snus in Sweden has made a positive contribution to reducing smoking and to overall public health. Sweden has the lowest incidence of male smoking in the EU and the highest consumption of oral tobacco per capita in the world. It is the only country in the EU where snus is legally available and the only one to have achieved the World Health Organisation´s targets for reducing smoking rates. More Swedish men use snus than smoke cigarettes. Swedish men also have the lowest levels of lung cancer in Europe and among the lowest incidence of oral and pancreatic cancer. ´The ban on Swedish snus defies all logic especially when you consider that cigarettes are sold everywhere in the EU and are far more dangerous for health´ said Hammargren. ´It is now up to EU policy-makers to decide whether European smokers should also have the right to choose a tobacco product which are far safer than those currently available.´
The SCENIHR Committee advised strongly that any move to allow adult consumers greater access to smokeless tobacco products should be accompanied by measures to protect consumers and control sales. Tomas Hammargren said, ´Of course, we support legalization of snus but no smokeless tobacco product is entirely harmless. We support unreservedly SCENIHR´s call for strict controls on the product, on sales and on marketing – especially where youth is concerned.´
In its recent report on implementation of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC), the European Commission stated that the SCENIHR report would form the basis for future risk management measures on smokeless tobacco products. ESTOC would welcome an initiative from the Commission to launch a debate with the public health community and other relevant stakeholders on next steps. ´This report demonstrates that reform of EU regulation of smokeless tobacco products is sorely needed and long overdue ´, said Hammargren. ´We have proposals for a new science-based regulatory framework and look forward to a constructive discussion with EU policy-makers and health activists.´
ESTOC, European Smokeless Tobacco Council, was established in 1989 and represents the interests of smokeless tobacco manufacturers and distributors as well as tobacco trade associations. We monitor all smokeless tobacco related issues, including the latest scientific developments at a European and worldwide level.
Website: www.estoc.org
