Protecting European health through the implementation and harmonisation of European tobacco legislation. 

Within the framework of the Joint Action on Tobacco Control 2, European countries joined forces to support the implementation of Tobacco legislation throughout the 28 Member States and contributed to the reduction of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. The Joint Action was launched in 2021 and ran until 2024. The Danish Safety and Technology Authority (DSTA) coordinated the JATC. RIVM was one of the 36 project partners/institutions.

Objective

The general objective of the Joint Action was to strengthen the cooperation between the Member States within the area of tobacco control, specifically concerning enforcement and implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), the Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD), and to develop a common ground for strategies on smoke-free environments and tobacco endgame strategies. The partners of JATC 2 were also committed to the new Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, where EU European Union (European Union ) Member States stand together in the fight against tobacco, and in promoting activities consistent with the objectives of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The previous JATC contributed to the implementation of the TPD in specific areas of laboratory capacity, testing methods for tobacco and related products, regulation of ingredients and developed data sharing agreements concerning the excessive amounts of data within EU-CEG. JATC 2 built on the results of the JATC and added new pillars to the work of Joint Action within tobacco control.

Outcomes

RIVM led a work package aimed at gaining a better understanding of the properties, health impact and regulatory implications of novel tobacco products and e-cigarettes, to support effective information and regulation. The outcomes of our work are described in several reports and five concise information sheets, which are published on the project website: JATC2 - Outcomes- Useful Material. 

Summaries of the information sheets:

• Overview of Novel Tobacco Products, E-Cigarettes, and Herbal Products for Smoking Across Member States - The EU Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG) provides essential data on tobacco and nicotine products, but issues like data inconsistencies, incomplete submissions, and outdated reporting reduce its effectiveness. Recommendations include stricter compliance measures, clearer submission guidelines, automated validation checks, and harmonized data standards to improve public health monitoring and regulatory enforcement.
• Factors Contributing to Health Impact and Abuse Liability of Tobacco and Nicotine Products - Tobacco and nicotine products are designed to attract users through appealing flavours, sensory enhancements, and customizable designs, while nicotine's addictiveness sustains use. These factors, paired with situational influences like marketing and accessibility, heighten the risks of initiation, addiction, and harm. To reduce attractiveness and abuse liability, regulators should enforce flavour bans, plain packaging and marketing restrictions, lower nicotine content, regulate device design, and educate consumers on health risks.
• Hazardous Substances in the Aerosols of E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products - Over 2,000 harmful substances, including 133 high-priority toxicants such as carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxins, have been identified in e-cigarette and heated tobacco product (HTP) ingredients and emissions. Factors like customizable wattage, DIY liquid mixing, and chemical reactions during storage heighten risks. Recommended measures include banning harmful ingredients, monitoring emissions, regulating nicotine-free products and implementing tools for automatic monitoring of hazardous substances in ingredients or emissions.
• Use, Perceptions, and Attractiveness of E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products - The use of e-cigarettes and HTPs is rising in Europe, with 14% of adults having tried e-cigarettes and nearly half of users consuming products daily. Youth are particularly attracted to these products due to flavours, appealing designs, and marketing, raising concerns about addiction and their role as gateways to smoking. Regulatory measures such as flavour bans, plain packaging, advertising restrictions, and stricter age enforcement, along with better public education and research, are needed to reduce youth appeal and address misconceptions about harm.
• Harmonized Collection of Adverse Health Incidents Across the EU - Serious health effects from novel tobacco products (NTPs) and e-cigarettes are underreported due to inconsistent data collection across Member States and limited physician awareness. A centralized EU system with standardized reporting, open-access data, and enhanced education for healthcare providers is recommended to monitor incidents, ensure data reliability, and support informed regulatory decisions.

Measuring flavourings in e-liquids

RIVM also participated in a work package aimed to support international collaboration on laboratory work in the EU. Together with partners from Italy, and in collaboration with WHO Tobacco Laboratory Network (TobLabNet), we developed a method to measure flavourings in e-liquids. 

RIVM staff involved in the JATC2 were Anne Havermans, Charlotte Pauwels, Yvonne Staal, Jeroen Pennings, Walther Klerx and Reinskje Talhout, head of RIVM's WHO Collaborating Centre for Tobacco Product Regulation and Control.

Funding

JATC2 was co-funded by the European Union’s Health Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101035968/ JA-01-2020.