Dear reader,
June was a busy month for QLS and for the world of tobacco harm reduction. From launching our new website and contributing to major public consultations in Europe and Brazil, to highlighting important international policy developments and good news for nicotine pouches in the United States, we have a lot to cover.
We’re proud to introduce the new QLS website.
Designed to improve accessibility, navigation and the presentation of our work, the new platform is faster, more robust and easier to navigate. Our news, events and scientific repository have been better organised, making it easier to access the latest developments in tobacco harm reduction.
Visitors can also expect more frequent updates, new resources and much more evidence-based content in the months ahead.
Quit Like Sweden submitted an evidence-based contribution to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD).
Prepared alongside Professor Marewa Glover and Dr Anders Milton, the submission calls on the Commission to fully consider the scientific evidence on non-combustible nicotine products, their role in reducing smoking, and the importance of proportionate, risk-based regulation.
Drawing on evidence from Sweden, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the submission argues that the forthcoming revision should reflect the full breadth of available evidence to better protect public health.
Read our contribution:
European Commission – Have your say
As part of the first stage of Brazil’s regulatory review, ANVISA invited evidence-based submissions to help shape the country’s future framework for nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products.
QLS submitted a detailed response supporting risk-proportionate regulation that protects young people while ensuring adults who smoke have access to lower-risk alternatives.
Our submission also highlights the need to tackle the illicit market, establish quality and safety standards, and base future policy on the best available scientific evidence rather than prohibition alone.
Read more:
QLS participates in Brazil’s ANVISA public consultation
New Zealand has become one of the world’s leading examples of successful tobacco harm reduction, achieving one of the fastest declines in smoking prevalence ever recorded.
Our latest article explores how evidence-based policies, access to lower-risk nicotine products and pragmatic regulation have accelerated this progress. Together with Sweden, New Zealand demonstrates that replacing smoking, not simply restricting nicotine, is the fastest path to reducing tobacco-related disease.
Read more:
How New Zealand dramatically cut smoking rates
Most smokers don’t fail to quit because they lack motivation, they fail because safer alternatives are not accessible, acceptable and affordable.
In her latest opinion article, QLS Founder Suely Castro explains why these “Three A’s” are the foundation of Sweden’s smoke-free success and why access to lower-risk nicotine products should be at the heart of effective tobacco control policy.
Read more:
The Three As
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products to be marketed with modified risk claims.
Following an extensive scientific review, the FDA concluded that completely switching from cigarettes to these products significantly reduces the risk of several serious smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
This marks the first time nicotine pouches have received a modified risk authorisation in the United States, recognising their potential to help adults who smoke move away from combustible cigarettes.
Read more:
FDA authorises 20 ZYN nicotine pouches
The European Commission’s proposal for steep tax increases on safer nicotine products suffered a heavy defeat in the European Parliament, with 439 votes against and 181 in favour.
A more proportionate “less harm, lower tax” report came much closer, falling short by just 12 votes. The result suggests that many Members of the European Parliament recognise the role of tobacco harm reduction and that the debate is moving towards a more evidence-based approach.
The outcome reinforces the principle that taxation should reflect relative risk, helping preserve the affordability of safer alternatives that can accelerate the decline of smoking.
Read more:
EU nicotine tax parliament rejections
Quit Like Sweden will take part in the European Commission’s upcoming public consultation on the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD).
Building on our recent submission to the Commission’s Call for Evidence, we will continue advocating for proportionate, evidence-based regulation that recognises the role of tobacco harm reduction in improving public health.
The public consultation is open until 14 August 2026, and contributions can be submitted via the European Commission’s Have Your Say portal:
Access the public consultation
We’ll also continue publishing new research, opinion articles and policy analysis to support informed discussions on the future of nicotine regulation.
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