The Senate committees have just presented their amendments to the project to modernize our health system and unfortunately, the frustration and incomprehension of vapers is very present this evening. Here is the AIDUCE press release:
While Marisol Touraine, Bercy and some MPs openly support the tobacconists, the health of the vapers, and all the smokers who could one day reduce the risks related to their smoking by adopting the vape, is definitely not the main concern of our elected. Once again we have the sad confirmation of it.
Once again, the interests of the tobacco industry and its distributors come to prevail over all other considerations. It could be laughable if there were so many lives at stake: in France, tobacco is a plane that crashes every day ...
The senatorial commissions have just presented their amendments to the modernization project of our health system adopted in the National Assembly 14 April 2015.
After meeting the Health Commission a few days ago, the Aiduce hoped to have provided all the necessary elements for the senators to bring fair and enlightened arguments to a text supposed to contribute to an improvement of the health care of the citizens of this country. country.
Unfortunately, nothing has happened ... The reading of the amendments proposed by the senators, which have just been published, shows that the interviews with the tobacco industry or the tobacconists obviously had a much greater impact than any invitation. to promote a policy of risk reduction, and that clientelism has once again overtaken our health.
The proposed amendments reflect serious concerns about the neutral package or the competition of contraband cigarettes. As for the vape, they do not change the initial text adopted in the National Assembly ... except to outbid the amalgam and restrictions!
We thus note the addition of the ban on sponsorship and patronage or direct or indirect advertising for the electronic cigarette, and more precisely of »Propaganda or advertising, direct or indirect, in favor of tobacco, products of the tobacco or ingredients defined in the second paragraph of Article L. 3511-1, ingredients defined in the second paragraph of Article L. 3511-1, electronic vaping devices and associated refill bottles ”.
The survival of public forums would thus depend on the definition of "propaganda" and "advertising", while their essential role is information and mutual aid. It would be the same for Facebook groups and individual accounts related to the vape. Will they be considered "indirect advertising"? This suggests that an authority or association could initiate proceedings against them. We know that certain associations, as quick to impose their morality and ideology as they do not have enough members, have never hidden from wanting to close down all the sites promoting the vape, once the law has been promulgated. .
Regarding public places, the amendments seek to close the small space of freedom that was left to us and the reference to the existence of spaces reserved for vapers, by deleting from the bill the following passage: "in particular the terms of development spaces reserved for the use of electronic vaping devices ". The Senate committee considers that this "detail" would be too difficult to implement in public transport and that it is not necessary to refer to it elsewhere.
Ignoring the advice of the State Council, in the opinion of science, doctors, common sense in a health policy and risk reduction, vapers are once again gently pushed to return to tobacco.
The tobacco / vape amalgam remains the favorite alibi of our legislators, as long as it works ... And when science contradicts it, there remains speculation, conjectures, and arguments such as the "incentive gesture of seduction" that we'll meet again soon, do not doubt it.
L'Aiduce expresses its consternation, therefore, at the reading of the amendments proposed by the Senate committees, and notes the lack of interest of these committees in the issues relating to the health of vapers and smokers, and their much more manifest concern. as regards the protection of brands and tobacco distribution channels. She sincerely thought that she had been heard and noted that she had not even been listened to.
Aiduce unfortunately does not have the means that these manufacturers and distributors of tobacco have to assert their interests and considers that health is an objective concept that must be self-sufficient. His fight and that of the vapers will continue on other grounds.
http://www.senat.fr/amendements/commissions/2014-2015/406/liste_discussion.html
Source : Aiduce press release
