Sweet sighs in Sweden as election brings a probable switch in policy on vaping

After the victory of right-wing parties in Sweden’s very close election this week, the country’s vaping sector – and its customers – may well be breathing a sigh of relief; perhaps a peppermint- or caramel- or blueberry-scented sigh, indeed.

It was the previous, more leftist government which had backed a plan earlier in the year to restrict flavours in nicotine products, but that proposal was rejected by the parliament (although other, less contentious restrictions were approved) and the new administration looks unlikely to resuscitate it or similar ideas.

Novel nicotine products, and tobacco control generally, are rarely to the forefront in elections: not least because there is no real argument about the desirability of reducing smoking, and because relatively few citizens are affected by any measures that might be adopted (or not). But for those in the industry, and for those who use products such as e-cigarettes, they can make a big difference – and nowhere more than in Europe, it seems.

This is made startlingly clear by our new Policy Radar product, which currently tracks the development of nicotine-related policy in 39 countries. Among its many features is an election monitor, which assesses how significant forthcoming polls are to the sector…and nearly all of those rated as most meaningful are in Europe.

New parties with very different views

In Italy, Spain, and Finland, for example, the next elections “are likely to bring new parties into government with very different views towards tobacco and nicotine product policy”. Indeed, the outcome of Italy’s – due in less than a fortnight – may, if the right wing prevails as expected, be just as welcome as Sweden’s to businesses facing an increase in excise duties.

Of course, this is not the only part of the world where elections matter; the Policy Radar also identifies Canada, the Philippines and the US as races to watch. And, as we reported recently, the possible announcement next month of an early election in Malaysia might put a question mark over the future of that country’s Generational End Game Bill, which would cut off the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2007.

But still, it is Europe, with its wide gamut of (current) policy positions, from prohibitionist Norway to pro-harm-reduction Britain, that most vividly illustrates how big-picture politics can and does make a difference – how elections that aren’t “about” vaping or nicotine at all can nevertheless have such an impact on the climate for nicotine alternatives.

– Barnaby Page ECigIntelligence staff

Photo: Claudio Schwarz

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.