More than 10 000 people have signed the petition called “Free choice for adults! On preservation of e-cigarette aromas” on Manabalss.lv platform, according to Tobacco-free Products Association.
Because the initiative has received the necessary number of votes, it will be submitted to the Saeima for review. The objective of this initiative is to invite the parliament to not ban various flavours of e-cigarettes and instead adopt solution to battle the illegal market and educate society about healthy choices.
Despite the stereotypes held by residents, the e-cigarettes industry is not interested in youngsters using their products.
The Tobacco-free Products Association previously made multiple requests to set bans for youngsters under the age of 21. The organisation also suggested ensuring control over compliance with this ban.
The industry’s target audience are people who intentionally stop using tobacco. According to many new studies, smoking regular cigarettes is several times more damaging to health than e-cigarettes. And adults are free to choose – to use e-cigarettes with or without flavours.
“The Saeima’s new regulations are in breach of strategies employed in the interest of public health by countries like Sweden and Britain,” the initiative’s application mentions.
Toms Lūsis, the author of the initiative, comments that
“there is a general impression that Latvian legislators know nothing about all this and continue basing their opinion on outdated beliefs and studies”.
“The latest scientific data shows that e-cigarettes are up to 95% less dangerous for human health than regular cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes are supported as a way out of sorts for residents to stop using tobacco products, as well as radically combat the widely spread smoking-related diseases like lung cancer,” as mentioned in the initiative’s application.
Lūsis explained the government needs to keep in mind that by denying adults the freedom of choice when it comes to e-cigarette flavours, the state budget could lose considerable revenue from excise tax on flavoured e-cigarette liquids.
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