According to a new report from Swiss Re, life insurers should distinguish between the risks of traditional smoking and harm-reduced nicotine products.
In its new report, the reinsurer Swiss Re urges a review of smoking risks in the era of e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products. The document points out that it is an outdated practice to classify all nicotine users uniformly as traditional smokers, as different devices represent different exposure patterns and risk levels.
The report highlights the use of specific biomarkers such as NNAL or anabasine, which are suitable for distinguishing the presence of toxic substances in tobacco smoke from pure nicotine consumption. In future risk assessment, DNA methylation patterns could also play a role in accurately measuring cumulative smoking exposure.
The insurance sector’s approach is consistent with the position of the International Monetary Fund, which states that tax systems should reflect the actual harm caused by products. According to the organization, it is justifiable to apply lower tax burdens to non-combustible, smoke-free alternatives.
In brief
- The Swiss Re report proposes a review of treating nicotine users as uniform smokers in the life insurance sector.
- Different categories—cigarettes, heated tobacco, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches—represent different levels of exposure and risk.
- Biomarkers can be used to separate exposure to toxic tobacco compounds from simple nicotine intake.
- According to an earlier IMF proposal, taxation should also follow the lower harm profile of non-combustion alternatives.
Source: TheVapingToday (thevapingtoday.com)
This summary was created by artificial intelligence based on the original article.