Eight EU states demand stricter nicotine and tobacco regulations

Eight European Union member states—Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—have submitted a joint letter to European Commissioner for Health Olivér Várhelyi requesting stricter regulations on nicotine products.

The proposal, often referred to as a ‘market freeze,’ seeks to prevent the introduction of new categories of nicotine products, such as tobacco-free electronic cigarettes, into the EU market. Additional demands include a broad ban on flavors, the implementation of plain packaging, stricter nicotine concentration limits, and enhanced controls on social media advertising.

Proponents argue these measures are essential to protect public health and prevent nicotine addiction among youth, aligning with the EU’s goal of a ‘smoke-free generation’ by 2040. However, critics and health experts have raised concerns. Over 110 scientists and doctors warned that such policies might inadvertently protect the traditional cigarette market by blocking less harmful alternatives and could drive consumers toward illegal black markets.

In France, the Confederation of Tobacconists has criticized the government for joining the initiative without prior consultation with industry stakeholders. Economic concerns have also been raised regarding potential losses in tax revenue and the rise of illicit trade, which already accounts for significant portions of the market in several European nations.