The Commission’s evaluation of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) 🎯 substantially overstates its public‑health success and fails to provide a credible evidence base for risk‑proportionate regulation of low‑risk nicotine products. 🔍 Framing & Methodology • Smoking prevalence reduction is treated as the main success metric, yet the evaluation does not convincingly isolate the TPD’s impact…
Comparative public health outcomes across countries can provide valuable insight into how regulatory frameworks shape behaviour, risk exposure, and long-term disease burden. A recent comparative analysis of Brazil and New Zealand highlights how differing policy approaches toward nicotine products are associated with divergent trends in smoking prevalence. Both countries have implemented strong tobacco control measures…
Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union presents a strategic opportunity to shape Europe’s public health agenda at a time of growing pressure on health systems and widening inequalities in outcomes. Recent discussions highlight a clear direction: stronger coordination, a renewed focus on prevention, and the need to address high-burden diseases through…
New U.S. evidence highlights patterns relevant to harm reduction policy As nicotine pouches (ONPs) continue to expand in the United States, understanding how adult smokers engage with these products is becoming increasingly important for evidence-based regulation. A recent peer-reviewed study using nationally representative data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study provides…
Across the European Union, tobacco control policy has historically focused on reducing smoking through restrictions, taxation, and public health campaigns. These measures have contributed to steady declines in smoking prevalence over time. However, the pace of change has varied across Member States, and smoking remains a significant public health concern. Within this broader context, Sweden…
European Union regulatory frameworks are designed to provide stability, predictability, and coherence across Member States. Directives such as the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) are central to this approach, establishing the rules that govern how tobacco and nicotine products are regulated and taxed across the internal market. These frameworks are…
Debates on tobacco and nicotine policy within the European Union have often been characterised by strong views and high levels of engagement. This reflects the importance of the issue. Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable disease, and decisions taken by policymakers have long-term implications for public health across Member States. However, the intensity…
Across the European Union, tobacco control policy has long focused on reducing smoking prevalence through a combination of regulatory restrictions, public health campaigns, and excise taxation. These approaches have contributed to meaningful progress over time. However, smoking remains a leading cause of preventable disease, and reducing its impact continues to be a central objective of…
European tobacco and nicotine policy is shaped by several regulatory instruments. Among the most important are the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which establishes product standards and regulatory requirements, and the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED), which governs how tobacco products are taxed across the European Union. Although these two frameworks address different aspects of regulation, their…
Public health policy often develops through long institutional processes. Regulations are debated, negotiated, and revised through multiple stages of consultation and political review. This is particularly true in the European Union, where legislative frameworks such as the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) shape tobacco and nicotine policy across all Member…