Foe of light-touch regulation takes Europe’s top health role

The top health position in the European Commission has gone to a politician who strongly advocated that e-cigarettes be treated as medicines.

The appointment raises fears that e-cigs could be in for harsh regulatory attitudes as European countries begin to implement the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).

Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, who becomes Europe’s commissioner for health and food safety, supported pharmaceutical regulation for e-cigs during the preparation of the TPD, although the European Parliament disagreed and the eventual directive allowed for both consumer and medical regimes.

He also proposed bans on refillable devices and low nicotine limits for Europe, and while Lithuanian health minister he was instrumental in the prohibition of all vapour products in that country.

In his new role Andriukaitis will head the EU’s directorate-general for health and consumers, also known as SANCO, which will be responsible for much of the implementation detail of the TPD, including defining testing; reviewing the safety of refillables; interpreting market data; deciding whether to challenge member states which choose to regulate e-cigs as medicines only; and eventually reviewing the whole directive.

He is one of a set of new European commissioners announced this week.

What This Means: Andriukaitis may have clear anti-e-cig sentiments but he will not be a dictator – as in the case of the TPD, there will still be scope for more sympathetic politicians (and lobbyists) to influence policy. However, their arguments and their data will have to be good, and the importance of Europe’s industry associations may grow with a fearsome opponent to fight.

– Barnaby Page ECigIntelligence staff

Related articles from ECigIntelligence:

• European elections threaten political quagmire for TPD
• Early signs of Euro shake-up as TPD requirements creep closer
• Politician’s YouTube video extols freedom to vape

Photo: Jason Train

Barnaby Page

Editorial director

Before joining ECigIntelligence in early 2014 as one of its first employees, Barnaby had a 30-year career as a reporter and editor for newspapers, magazines and online services, working in Canada, the US and the Middle East as well as his current British location. He has edited publications covering fields including technology and the advertising industry, and was launch editor of the first large daily online news service in the British regional media. Barnaby also writes on classical music and film for a number of publications. Barnaby manages the editorial and reporting teams and works closely with the analyst teams, to ensure that all content meets high standards of quality and relevance. He also writes for the site occasionally, mostly on science-related issues, and is a member of the Association of British Science Writers.