The European Commission's Scientific Committee for Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) today published its opinion paper on additives in tobacco products and launched a public consultation on the subject.

In its pre-consultation opinion on the addictiveness and attractiveness of tobacco additives, which can be viewed here, SCENIHR concluded that tobacco has a high addictive potential in humans, but it has been difficult to assess the addictiveness of individual additives. As of yet, no tobacco additive has been identified as being addictive in itself, the report states. However, it is thought that certain additives may enhance the addictiveness of nicotine indirectly, such as menthol and fruit flavours.
The European Commission, in consultation with the SCENIHR, is inviting all interested parties to submit their comments on the scientific basis and conclusions proposed by the SCENIHR by 5 September 2010. Details on the consultation can be found here.
In response to a request from the European Parliament, the Commission had asked SCENIHR to assess the role of additives and characteristics of tobacco products in tobacco take up and addiction. SCENIHR is one of the three independent non-food scientific committees managed by Directorate Health and Consumer Protection of the Commission, providing scientific advice to the Commission on issues related to e.g. new technologies, medical devices, physical risks and methodologies of risk assessment. (pi)