European Parliament Cancer Vote Raises Questions on Risk

The European Parliament’s latest cancer policy vote has exposed a troubling and ideological approach to public health. All products containing nicotine are to be pushed towards a single, rising tax floor regardless of their risk profile, while alcohol, a Group 1 carcinogen in the same classification as tobacco smoke, is principally met with labels, awareness campaigns and the promise of another strategy document. Ultra-processed food receives much the same treatment, better labelling, a request for a scientific definition and a gentle non-binding suggestion that countries consider differentiated VAT rates.

Tomáš Kubín, the Czech MEP from the Patriots for Europe group, warned that while he absolutely supports strong cancer prevention, there was a glaring “lack of consistency and proportionality” in the proposed policy. He continued: “Both my parents and my brother were heavy smokers and died of cancer, but our regulations have to reflect the actual evidence and the different levels of risk involved.