A coalition of 23 leading European experts in medicine, toxicology, epidemiology and addiction science has accused European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi of disseminating “false and misleading” information about the risks posed by smoke-free nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco.
In an open letter dated February 25, 2026 and addressed to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, the signatories claim Várhelyi’s repeated assertions such products carry health risks “comparable to or even bigger than smoking itself” are “scientifically untenable” and could distort upcoming European Union legislation on tobacco taxation and product regulation.
“We write to you to correct dangerous, false, and misleading statements about novel smoke-free tobacco and nicotine products made by Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi,” the letter states...
They stress that these products are not “safe” or “harmless” but beyond any reasonable doubt far less harmful than cigarettes.
Olivér Várhelyi is a lawyer by profession, but he's convinced -
Most starkly, in a December 2025 interview with Euractiv, when asked if he was convinced that alternative tobacco products are as harmful as traditional cigarettes, Várhelyi replied: “Yes, I am. Absolutely. One hundred per cent.”
Most starkly, in a December 2025 interview with Euractiv, when asked if he was convinced that alternative tobacco products are as harmful as traditional cigarettes, Várhelyi replied: “Yes, I am. Absolutely. One hundred per cent.”
But we already know about lawyers and politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment