By a majority of 652 votes to 15, the European Parliament adopted a report on cancer prevention and treatment that acknowledged the potential contribution of steam products to smoking cessation. "E-cigarettes can allow some smokers to gradually quit," the report states.
With this report, the European Parliament has become the first elected Chamber in the world to support the reduction of tobacco harm, according to the Independent European E-Cigarette Association (IEVA).
"This is a landmark announcement by the European Parliament, which should help convince smokers of the health benefits of switching to e-cigarettes," IEVA Chairman Dustin Dahlmann said in a statement. "We are now encouraging other EU institutions -- particularly the Commission -- to accept this and ensure that policy follows the science, not the other way around."
In addition to measures to reduce the incidence of cancer, the committee's report pays particular attention to the serious health effects of smoking.
The report also highlights the need for further research on e-cigarettes to look at them from a relative perspective, as smoking causes death while e-cigarettes do not.
The final text of the report also refers to further assessment of flavours that are "particularly attractive to minors and non-smokers" and a possible ban on their use in the context of the review of the tobacco products directive.
IEVA states that it is crucial to avoid taste bans, as the diversity of tastes is one of the main reasons why adult smokers switch to e-cigarettes and e-cigarette users do not return to smoking.
"Studies on the impact of flavor bans show that many e-cigarette users return to smoking as a result of [the ban]," Dahlmann said. "This must be prevented. We agree that measures must be taken to reduce inappropriate marketing, while recognising the key role spices play in helping smokers to quit."