The UK Department of Health and Social Care published a ridiculous statement on oral tobacco products attempting to justify its defence of the EU ban on snus to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry into e-cigarettes. It argues, in effect, that it needs the snus ban to so debase the EU’s ‘proportionality principle’ that this central principle of good policymaking cannot be used to challenge the government’s favoured tobacco control measures such as plain packaging, for which there is little supporting evidence.
I responded with an analysis of how its approach violates the EU principles of proportionality, non-discrimination and precaution. See my Submission in response to a letter to the Committee from the Secretary of State regarding oral tobacco.