An Investigation Into The Importance OF The EU Ttobacco Products Directive For Human Health In Modern Society

1. An Investigation Into The Importance OF The EU Tobacco Products Directive For Human Health In Modern Society The European Tobacco Products Directive is a directive of the European Union (EU) that limits the marketing, merchandising and sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products in the EU. It also includes measures on e-cigarettes, flavourings (like menthol), additives and packaging and came into effect in May 2020. This directive is applicable in EU member states, including the UK, and aims to prevent making tobacco products look attractive through characterising flavours, especially to young people. The directive is further fuelled by extensive research on the appeal of diverse ENDS products in countries like the USA and the UK because smoking has many detrimental effects on human health. Millions of people worldwide die each year from tobacco-related diseases, but the EU tobacco products directive, which includes comprehensive tobacco control strategies and harm reduction initiatives, has achieved great success in the reduction and occurrence of smoking and general consumption of tobacco products. According to research, around 90% of smokers start the habit before the age of 18 years and 99% start at the age of 26 years. Tobacco use usually begins systematically and nicotine addiction in tobacco products becomes established during adolescence and young adulthood. According to market research that was conducted by a global leader in behavioural science in tobacco harm reduction, more strategies should be used to effectively warn individuals on the dangers of smoking and to make tobacco products look less attractive. This includes the manufacturing, sales and marketing of electronic cigarettes. E-cigarettes or ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) are smoking devices that typically consists of nicotine, propylene and other chemicals, that when smoked, deliver a chemical mixture to the lungs of the user. According to research agencies, the safety of e-cigarettes is not scientifically proven, and the potential risks they pose to the health of users remain indefinite. Tobacco manufacturers use chemical additives to change the smell, taste, and texture of tobacco products so that it masks the unpleasant taste or flavour of nicotine. Modern tobacco products such as vapes and e-cigarettes, for example, come with a wide variety of flavours, which increase their appeal among young adults. By changing the smell, taste, and other sensory properties of tobacco products, it becomes easier for tobacco manufacturers to recruit new ENDS users (which are mostly young people) and keep them. e-Cigarettes were initially manufactured and introduced to the market as a temporary solution to help people quit smoking, but the popularity of these products has increased rapidly and after a decade, the debate over the health hazards posed by the use of these products still continues. Global recommendations on tobacco control, such as the EU tobacco products directive, provide for the effective regulation of new tobacco products (for example, e-cigarettes), in the interest of everyone's health. Because every individual has the right to a smoke-free environment, non-smoking legislation has been introduced in countries around the world and nowadays everything is thrown into the case to reduce exposure to tobacco products through advertising, or to implement harm reduction strategies. The EU tobacco products directive is therefore not only implemented to protect the health of young people, but also that of tobacco users. Although each country has its own regulations in place regarding the labelling and packaging of tobacco products, some countries also have a ban on their promotion and advertising, and in some countries, there is a ban on the addition of flavours to tobacco cigarettes. Therefore, all manufacturers also have a responsibility to comply with the regulations and individuals or manufacturers who want to introduce a new tobacco product to the market, are often required to submit a prescribed application premarket tobacco product application) for approval. Fortunately, many internationally recognised research agencies can assist manufacturers with these applications, as they involved a substantial amount of supportive documentation.

2. About us: CSUR is a Global Leader on Behavioural Science in Tobacco Harm Reduction, operating from their base at the Centre for Substance Use Research Ltd in Glasgow. CSUR opened in 1994 linked initially to the University of Glasgow, and in 2011 CSUR became a wholly independent research centre focussing on a wider range of substance use issues and developing a large programme of behaviourally focussed regulatory science research assessing the contribution of ENDS in reducing tobacco-related health harm. Our team comprises post-doctoral researchers in behavioural science, experts in marketing, cyber security, and media. Our focus is on furthering the goals of tobacco-related harm reduction and assessing the public health impact of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and our goal is to ensure that those working within these industries have access to high-quality behavioural research that can further their owns goals of reducing the harms associated with the use of combustible tobacco products. Find out more by visiting our website at https://www.csures.com.