SFP Publications 

• Article: World No Tobacco Day 2024: Consumption Among Teenagers in Europe on the Rise
• Article: Lilia Olefir to be Honored for Leadership in Fighting Tobacco Use in Ukraine and Across Europe
• Article: This summary of the 2024 application for an EU4H operating grant presents the activities planned by the SFP Coalition in 2024
• Article: INC-4 Negotiations on the Global Plastic Treaty: A Summary
• Article: WHO Report: A focus on adolescent substance use in Europe, Central Asia and Canada
• Article: UK's Vaping Products Duty Consultation
• Article: Tobacco Industry spent almost €20 million to influence EU policymakers, new report finds.
• Infographic: Declared Tobacco Industry Presence in the EU Policy-Making Environment 

SFP Annual Coalition Meeting and Workshop on Communications 

- SFP held its annual in-person Coalition Meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia on July 25. The meeting featured discussions on European institutions and the upcoming term of the European Parliament. Additionally, we had two interesting presentations from SCTC and the Youth Network No Excuse Slovenia.

-  SFP organised a Workshop on Tobacco Control Communications in Ljubljana, Slovenia on July 26. The Workshop, led by Communications Expert Andreea Petre-Goncalves, offered theoretical and concrete insights into creating impactful communications strategies for tobacco control using narratives and framing. 

SFP Participation in External Events 

- On 27-28 June, SFP participated in the FILTERED Conference “Challenging Big Industry Narratives: Alcohol, Tobacco, Unhealthy Food and Drinks - Population Measures and Policies,” held in Ljubljana, Slovenia. SFP Director Lilia Olefir moderated a panel on pro-health taxation, featuring contributions from Michal Stoklosa (WHO), Hughes de la Motte (DG TAXUD), and Arnfinn Helleve (JA prevent NCDs). SFP President Guy Muller, alongside Peter Rice (Eurocare), Nataša Jan (European Heart Network), and Urška Erklavec (Youth Health Organisation), delved into the theme of future partnerships across risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy food, and drinks). By addressing the challenges and opportunities of implementing “best buys” to combat NCDs, the conference offered a platform for both young and seasoned professionals to explore collaborative paths forward in preventing NCDs. 

NEWS FROM PARTNERS 

Israel approved a new tax order on tobacco and nicotine products 

After a long struggle to tax electronic cigarettes, the Israeli Knesset - the country's unicameral legislature - approved a new tax order on tobacco and nicotine products. The tax order, which came into effect on March 4, 2024, includes:

• A 7% tax increase on cigarettes, RYO and HTPs. 
• Increasing and comparing the tax on electronic cigarettes, so that the tax burden on electronic cigarettes will be similar to the tax burden on cigarettes. The tax on electronic cigarettes will enter into force in two stages, until July 1, 2024. 

The Netherlands ban the sale of tobacco products in supermarkets 

From 1 July 2024, the Netherlands has prohibited the sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes in supermarkets and hospitality establishments (hotels, restaurants, cafes). A recent survey reveals that 72% of Dutch citizens support the ban on tobacco sales in supermarkets. The ban, which will eliminate around 6,000 of the 10,000 sales points, is expected to reduce the number of smokers by 130,000 units. Additionally, since 1 January 2024, cross-border online sales of nicotine-free e-cigarettes, nicotine-free refill packs, nicotine-free cartridges, electronic heating devices, and herbal products intended for smoking have been prohibited. 

Slovenia amended its tobacco legislation 

On 28 March 2024, the Slovenian National Assembly voted to adopt an amendment to the tobacco legislation to ban all but tobacco flavours in electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Additionally, smoking rooms in restaurants will be banned from 1 January 2026. SFP Partner Slovenian Coalition for Public Health, Environment and Tobacco Control wishes to thank all of the Partners who send letters of support to the Slovenian National Assembly. 

Trial on Electronic Cigarettes vs Nicotine Chewing Gum has been retracted 

The Original Investigation “Efficacy of Electronic Cigarettes vs Varenicline and Nicotine Chewing Gum as an Aid to Stop Smoking: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” featured in the March 2024 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, has been retracted. Significant coding errors and discrepancies in the calculation process have been found. These cast doubt on the accuracy and reliability of the reported findings. This retraction underlines how fragile the evidence base on e-cigarettes for tobacco cessation is. 

New investigation on TI lobbying activities in Slovenia 

The Slovenian Coalition for Public Health, Environment and Tobacco Control and the Guardian of Integrity platform analysed national lobbying data and found that Japan Tobacco International, TDR, Tobačna Ljubljana, Philip Morris Ljubljana, and GZS repeatedly lobbied the Slovenian Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sports regarding the 2017 Restriction on the Use of Tobacco and Related Products Act. Similarly, the Independent European Vape Alliance and JTI lobbied the National Assembly on the same Act. The research was coordinated by Transparency International Slovenia researcher Jernej Trebežnik. 

In addition, lobbying has been recorded in recent months concerning other tobacco laws and regulations. BAT, Tobačna Ljubljana, and JTI lobbied the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Administration regarding the Act on Excise Duties. In June, the European Travel Retail Confederation lobbied in connection with the Protocol on the Elimination of Illegal Trade in Tobacco Products. Finally, GZS and TZS also opposed the proposal of the Strategy for Reducing the Consequences of Tobacco Use last year. 

UK's Tobacco and Vapes Bill clears first hurdle 

On 16 April, the UK's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will create the first ever tobacco-free generation by raising the age of sale by one year every year starting in 2027, was passed by 383 votes to 67, a majority of 316. The Bill now moves to the Committee stage before a final vote in the House of Commons, after which it will go to the House of Lords. 

Northern Ireland takes action on disposable electronic cigarettes 

Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir announced his intention to ban the sale and supply of sisposable e-cigarettes, in parallel with the rest of the UK. The ban, which will enter into force by April 2025, aims at preventing 5,000,000 disposable e-cigarettes from being thrown away every week across the UK. 

European Commission responds to Dutch State Secretary for Health on TNCO 

Sandra Gallina, Director-General for Health and Food Safety at the European Commission, replied to a letter hy the Dutch State Secretary of Heath Maarten van Ooijen regarding methods for the measurement of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide (TNCO) emissions from cigarettes. By highlighting a lack of general consensus on the most appropriate measurement method for TNCO emissions, in 2014 the European Commission decided to continue using the ISO methodology. 

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World is now Global Action to End Smoking 

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World has changed name and it now called Global Action to End Smoking. This name change and related media coverage will prompt increased outreach to members of the global tobacco control community. We urge you to reject these approaches. 

Industry defends sweet drinks amid Estonia's tax push 

The Estonian parliament passed the first reading of a sweet drink tax bill. UNESDA, representing the European soft drinks industry, has pushed back arguing that there is no clear evidence of the effectiveness of a soft drink tax in reaching public health goals, such as reducing obesity or NCDs. This is just an example of how other risk factors industries share the tobacco industry narrative on taxes. 

Accurate information on tobacco-related death rates in Sweden 

Three different parties have been exposed for spreading false information claiming that Sweden has the lowest rate of tobacco-related deaths in the EU. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, this claim is incorrect.