EU elections may bring harm-reduction issues into focus, says tobacco group rep

With the European Parliament elections looming, tobacco harm-reduction issues – which have so far seen a lack of emphasis in mainstream politics – could play an important role and contribute to potential shifts in policy focus, despite the complexity of political stances across parties. That’s the opinion of Frank Henkler-Stephani, senior director of tobacco harm reduction at the German Association of the Tobacco Industry and New Products (BVTE).

“Possibly, a shift to the centre-right puts question marks on some extensive European legislations,” said Henkler-Stephani. “It could also limit the influence of certain NGOs that push for a nicotine endgame. However, nothing is certain, since both support and rejection of tobacco harm reduction is found in all political parties.”