International scientific conference on e-cigarettes

From the 5-6 December 2022, the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) organised an international scientific conference on e-cigarettes

The objective of the e-cigarette conference was to create a place for international researchers and professionals working in the field of e-cigarettes to meet. It was intended to review ongoing research and identify any outstanding research questions by focusing on two central areas within the field: health effects and user trajectories.

AT Switzerland participated in the event, to examine the novel scientific research presented, as well as assess the debate surrounding e-cigarettes. While an objective scientific perspective was expected, often this was difficult to find. The snippets of scientific discussions were overshadowed by a programme and an audience riddled with pro-industry and e-cigarette supporters, invited by the conference’s scientific committee “to promote a debate”, where often none was to be had.

With keynote presentations from a former US public health official who believes e-cigarettes are better than tobacco, and Ann McNeill, the main author of the infamous and controversial Public Health England “landmark review” of evidence about e-cigarettes, reporting that e-cigarettes are around 95% less harmful than tobacco, the conference seemed destined to spread pro-e-cigarette propaganda.

Only key presentations from Maria Melchior, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), and Reinskje Talhout, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) stood out with clear scientifically sound data and research showing that ENDS and the risks they pose to youth remains a public health concern. And if these public health concerns remain, adequate regulations are necessary, with measures taken to restrict flavourings for example, as Reinskje Talhout explained the Dutch government had done. As of January 2023, the Netherlands plans to ban all e-liquid flavourings, other than tobacco flavourings, thus maintaining the precautionary principle.

Switzerland still lacks any sort of regulations on e-cigarettes, showing that we seem to value the market more than our public health.

Citations:

https://e-cigconference-2022.com/

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)00042-2/fulltext

https://www.rivm.nl/en/documenten/reducing-attractiveness-of-e-liquids-to-youth-proposal-for-restrictive-list-of-tobacco