We wanted to share with participants in the Network for Prevention, Early Detection and Screening some recent policy developments relevant to the network’s agenda:
1. European Commission Evaluation highlights gaps in the EU’s current Tobacco Control Framework
On 2 April 2026, the European Commission published its evaluation of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive. It concludes that EU tobacco control legislation has contributed to declining smoking rates and tobacco-related mortality across the Union. However, the framework has not fully adapted to market developments.
The evaluation identifies gaps in coverage of newer nicotine products, including vapes; weaknesses in flavour rules and product definitions; inconsistencies in labelling requirements; and limitations in addressing modern advertising practices.
Furthermore, the evaluation recognises the health harms associated with newer nicotine products, particularly for young people, and questions their role as cessation or harm-reduction tools. The evaluation will inform an upcoming public consultation ahead of a planned revision of the EU tobacco control framework expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
For more information about the evaluation, please see here
2. Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed
On 23 April, the United Kingdom approved a landmark anti-tobacco bill aimed at creating a “smoke-free generation.” Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be allowed to purchase tobacco products. The measure is designed to gradually phase out tobacco use, reduce addiction, and ease the long-term pressure on public health services.
The Bill targets both traditional tobacco and novel nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and disposable vapes. It introduces stricter regulations to prevent these products from being branded, promoted, or advertised in ways that appeal to children, aiming to reduce the risk of nicotine addiction among younger generations.
Tobacco continues to place a heavy burden on the United Kingdom, causing 400,000 hospital admissions and 64,000 deaths annually, with societal costs of £21.3 – £27.6 billion per year. Research from the University of Nottingham indicates the policy could add around 88,000 healthy life years by 2075.
The adoption gives the United Kingdom one of the most advanced anti-smoking policies in the world and may serve as a model for the EU and its member states, achieving Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan target of achieving a “tobacco-free generation” by 2040.
On 9 February 2026, the Netherlands announced plans to raise the minimum legal age for purchasing nicotine-containing products from 18 to 21, as part of its ongoing “smoke-free generation” strategy.
For more information about the UK’s smoking ban, please see here
3. A scientific study examines the impact of the flavor ban in the Netherlands
In March, BMJ published a study by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and Wageningen University assessing the impact of the Netherlands’ 2023 e-cigarette flavour ban. The study found that 40% of users reduced their e-cigarette consumption, with 22% quitting entirely.
E-cigarette use remains widespread in the Netherlands, particularly among young people. In 2023, one in five adolescents and young adults had tried e-cigarettes, while 10% reported monthly use and 2% daily use, highlighting the scale of nicotine exposure in this group.
In response, the Dutch government introduced in 2023 a flavour ban restricting e-cigarettes to tobacco-flavoured and unflavoured products, with the aim of reducing product attractiveness and limiting initiation among youth, which was the subject of the study.
The study reports clear behavioural changes following the measure:
Overall, e-cigarette use declined by 51.5% across age groups;
Daily use decreased by 36.4%;
Weekly use fell by 51.4%
The main conclusion of the study shows that the Dutch flavour bans effectively reduced e-cigarette use among both youth and adults, without leading to widespread substitution with more harmful products such as cigarettes. These results are consistent with previous research showing that comprehensive flavour restrictions can reduce overall nicotine product use.
For more information about the study, please see here
4. New report from UICC shows the impact of air pollution on cancer risk and mortality
On 16 April, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) published its report “Clean air in cancer control: An overview of the evidence” showcasing the impact of air pollution on cancer risk and mortality. The report sets out that long-term air pollution exposure significantly raises cancer risk and mortality across multiple types, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations:
While air pollution has long been recognised as a serious public health threat, the report provides one of the clearest pictures to date of its impact across cancer incidence and survival, showcasing that:
long-term exposure to polluted air raises the overall risk of developing cancer by 11%, with the sharpest rises for liver and colorectal cancer;
increases the overall risk of dying from cancer by 12%, and specifically from breast cancer by 20%, from liver cancer by 14%, and from lung cancer by 12%;
The heaviest burden falls on women, children, and low-income communities.
A central message of the report is the need to embed air-quality goals within national cancer control plans. Aligning air-quality standards with WHO guidelines, expanding monitoring in highly exposed communities, and integrating environmental risk reduction into cancer prevention strategies are essential steps to protect public health.
For more information about the report, please see here
5. Norway’s new legislation shields children from the marketing of unhealthy foods
On 23 March 2026, the World Health Organisation highlighted Norway’s recently adopted legislation banning the marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks to children. The legislation aims to reduce overweight and obesity and to protect young people from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and other noncommunicable diseases. It also builds on international momentum to create healthier environments for children.
Today, overweight and obesity cause more than 1.2 million deaths each year across the WHO European Region and are closely linked to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and several types of cancer. In response to this growing public health concern, Norway has introduced regulations prohibiting the marketing of specific categories of unhealthy foods and beverages to children under the age of 18. These rules apply to both traditional and digital advertising, including sponsorships, influencer marketing, product placement, and indirect branding practices.
Such measures align with WHO/Europe best buy policy that can effectively prevent noncommunicable diseases. By limiting children’s exposure to persuasive and confusing advertising of products high in sugar, salt and saturated fats, governments can help to shape healthier dietary norms early in life.
European Cancer Organisation
www.europeancancer.org