Timing of emerging-products ban questioned

Singapore’s announcement that it is to ban emerging tobacco products comes at a time when a growing number of public health experts around the world are acknowledging that innovative non-combustible tobacco products can benefit public health, according to a TodayOnline story quoting Philip Morris Asia’s vice president corporate affairs Johan Von Zweigbergk.

The ban, due to come into effect on December 15, is said to include smokeless cigars, cigarillos or cigarettes, dissolvable tobacco or nicotine products, any substance containing tobacco or nicotine intended for use with an electronic nicotine delivery system, and any product containing nicotine or tobacco that may be applied to the skin, implanted, or injected.

Zweigbergk said Philip Morris International had invested US$2 billion in recent years in research and development of potentially reduced-risk products and was working with scientists and governments across the world to establish scientifically the potential of these products to reduce harm.

As a global leader in tobacco control and a center of scientific excellence, Singapore should “continue to value science-based regulation, monitor market developments and remain open to innovative technologies” so that its estimated 600,000 cigarette smokers had access to potentially less harmful products, Zweigbergk was quoted as saying.
The story was relayed by the TMA.