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Tag: WHO

  • CAPHRA Urges Review of FCTC Following U.S. WHO Exit

    CAPHRA Urges Review of FCTC Following U.S. WHO Exit

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is calling on governments across the region to reassess the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) following the United States’ withdrawal from the WHO and criticism of the agency from New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. CAPHRA argues that while the FCTC formally recognizes harm reduction under Article 1(d), current policy implementation has not consistently supported reduced-risk alternatives such as vaping and nicotine pouches.

    CAPHRA representatives say restrictions on safer nicotine products risk slowing smoking decline and expanding illicit markets. The group pointed to New Zealand’s smoking rate, which has fallen to 6.8%, as evidence that regulated harm reduction strategies can accelerate public health gains. CAPHRA is also urging greater transparency in FCTC Conference of the Parties proceedings and broader engagement with independent scientists and consumer groups, arguing that future tobacco control policy should be measured by reductions in smoking prevalence and disease outcomes rather than product bans.

  • Vietnam Looking to Tighten Tobacco Regs

    Vietnam Looking to Tighten Tobacco Regs

    Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is seeking public feedback on a draft amendment to the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention that would significantly tighten regulations and close gaps in the current legal framework, according to Vietnam News. The proposed amendments prioritize public health over economic interests, align with Party and Politburo resolutions on health protection, and aim to fully meet Vietnam’s obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Key measures include banning the holding, transport, storage, advertising, promotion and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products; prohibiting the display of tobacco products at retail outlets; expanding smoke-free venues; and increasing health warning requirements on packaging. The draft also introduces clear legal definitions for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, strengthens responsibilities of government agencies and local authorities, and adds new prohibitions on producing or trading components used to assemble such products, with a focus on protecting women, children and public health overall.

  • FCTC Expansion Pushing Israel to Consider Tobacco Lawsuits

    FCTC Expansion Pushing Israel to Consider Tobacco Lawsuits

    Israel could see major legal and financial action against tobacco companies following the recent expansion of Article 19 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which includes calling on governments to file civil lawsuits to recover health costs caused by smoking. Attorney Amos Hozner told Arutz Sheva that in Israel, such lawsuits could generate NIS 40 billion ($12.4 billion) or more, given smoking prevalence over 20% and high public health costs. The provision encourages government authorities to pursue civil and administrative remedies against tobacco companies.

    Hozner pointed to high smoking rates among young people in Israel’s haredi community, with up to 54% of yeshiva students and 80% of secondary school students having tried smoking, and 56% of 17- to 24-year-olds smoking regularly.

  • Azerbaijan Sets New Vape Laws

    Azerbaijan Sets New Vape Laws

    Azerbaijan plans to set fines and enforcement mechanisms for the use of electronic cigarettes through secondary legal acts following the adoption of a new law, MP Soltan Mammadov, a member of parliament’s Health Committee, said. Mammadov said the bill seeks to clearly classify traditional tobacco, heated tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes, and is informed by international regulatory practices. He cited World Health Organization data indicating that e-cigarette use is significantly higher among minors than adults.

    The proposed legislation “aims to restrict tobacco and e-cigarette products containing harmful or carcinogenic substances and address the rising use of e-cigarettes among schoolchildren.” Details on penalties and enforcement measures will be defined after the law is enacted.

  • Bangladesh Labels Cig Filters as Single-Use Plastic

    Bangladesh Labels Cig Filters as Single-Use Plastic

    Bangladesh has become the first country in Asia to classify cigarette filters as single-use plastic (SUP), aligning the move with Article 18 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which focuses on environmental protection in tobacco production. The announcement was highlighted at a webinar yesterday (December 14), organized by PROGGA and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA).

    The development follows Bangladesh’s participation at COP-11 in Geneva, where the government presented its tobacco control achievements and reaffirmed its commitment to amend national tobacco laws and strengthen anti-tobacco measures.

  • New Zealand’s Conflicting Awards Panned by CAPHRA

    New Zealand’s Conflicting Awards Panned by CAPHRA

    Last week, Ben Youdan of New Zealand’s Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH NZ) received the Orchid Award at the 2025 E-Cigarette Summit in the UK for promoting evidence-based public health policy and a regulated vaping approach that has led to the country’s 60% reduction in adult smoking—down to 6.8%—negligible youth smoking, declining youth vaping, and sharp reductions in smoking among Māori women. In a press release today (December 15), the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) pointed to the striking contrast in recent recognition as New Zealand’s tobacco control work was given a “Dirty Ashtray” slight in November by the WHO FCTC at COP11.

    “This shows the world is splitting into two camps: those pursuing public health outcomes, and those pursuing pharmaceutical and billionaire interests,” said CAPHRA executive coordinator of Nancy Loucas. “This juxtaposition is perfect. The FCTC punishes New Zealand for achieving 6.8% smoking rates through harm reduction. Meanwhile, international public health leaders recognize our advocates for defending evidence-based policy against ideological capture.”

    CAPHRA accused FCTC institutions of ideological capture that are skewing policy against vaping and other harm reduction tools. The group questioned the value of FCTC membership for countries like New Zealand that are achieving strong results, warning that continued opposition to harm reduction risks undermining the treaty’s credibility and its original mandate to improve public health outcomes.

  • Nigeria Wants THR to Drive Low Smoking Rates Lower

    Nigeria Wants THR to Drive Low Smoking Rates Lower

    Despite already having one of the world’s lowest smoking rates at 3.7%, public-health experts are urging Nigeria to adopt a science-based, risk-proportionate tobacco harm-reduction (THR) strategy, saying the country cannot meaningfully cut smoking-related diseases without offering safer alternatives to cigarettes. Epidemiologist Dr. Yusuff Adebayo said traditional tobacco-control measures should be strengthened but paired with validated low-risk nicotine options for adults who cannot quit.

    Adebayo said Nigeria needs clear product standards, safety rules, transparent labelling, and tax policies that reflect relative risk, warning that high taxes or unclear regulations could push smokers to illicit, dangerous products.

    Adebayo cited countries such as the UK, Sweden, and Japan as examples of risk-proportionate frameworks that have helped reduce smoking rates. He also highlighted gaps in medical training, referencing a 2024 study showing uncertainty about THR among Nigerian medical students. Experts say a structured THR policy could also reduce illicit trade, attract compliant manufacturers, and lower long-term healthcare costs.

  • EU Document Leak Raises Questions Over COP11 Push

    EU Document Leak Raises Questions Over COP11 Push

    According to The European Times, industry observers are questioning the EU’s conduct at the WHO’s COP11 meeting after a leaked document showed Brussels pushing for far stricter language on novel nicotine products than member states had approved.

    “A leaked internal document later revealed that EU officials had encouraged the delegation to support language promoting prohibitions or strict limitations on all novel nicotine products,” the article said. “Once the document circulated among delegations, several member states described the situation as a procedural breach and questioned whether the Commission and the Danish EU Council Presidency were attempting to secure outcomes in Geneva that lacked consensus among governments at home.”

    WHO officials and aligned NGOs advocated sweeping restrictions on vapes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, including flavor limits, packaging rules, environmental mandates, and broader liability tools. According to the leaked text, EU officials privately urged support for prohibitions or severe limits on manufacturing, import, sale, and use of all emerging nicotine products—despite such wording having been removed from the EU’s formal mandate during internal negotiations.

    Many of the most restrictive COP11 proposals were ultimately scaled back or made voluntary, with broader measures postponed to COP12 in 2027. However, the controversy has intensified scrutiny over the EU’s role within WHO processes and the transparency of its negotiations on nicotine policy, according to The European Times.

  • CAPHRA Says WHO Allowing Prohibitionists to Dominate Agenda

    CAPHRA Says WHO Allowing Prohibitionists to Dominate Agenda

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) criticized the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat for allowing what it called “Bloomberg-funded prohibitionist NGOs to dominate the policy agenda” at COP11. CAPHRA said the “Dirty Ashtray Award” given to New Zealand reflects a corrupted process in which countries are shamed for not aligning with an ideological, prohibition-driven narrative rather than evidence-based public health outcomes.

    New Zealand, CAPHRA said, has one of the world’s lowest smoking rates at 6.8%, alongside sharply declining youth vaping and minimal youth smoking—developments credited to its harm-reduction framework. Despite this success and strengthened penalties for youth access violations, New Zealand was targeted while countries with far higher smoking rates received positive recognition. Supportive COP11 delegations, including Canada, Sweden, and Germany, likewise emphasized transparency, consumer input, and independent science, highlighting widening divisions within the treaty process.

    CAPHRA executive coordinator Nancy Loucas condemned the Secretariat’s approach, saying evidence-based harm-reduction advocates are wrongly portrayed as industry-aligned. CAPHRA is urging the FCTC to uphold its mandate, arguing that countries must be free to craft policies suited to their own contexts.

    Source: CAPHRA

  • WHO Urges Vietnam to Ban Vapes and HTP Investment

    WHO Urges Vietnam to Ban Vapes and HTP Investment

    The World Health Organization recommended that Vietnam explicitly classify e-cigarette and heated tobacco trade as prohibited sectors in its amended Investment Law, leaving no exceptions. The call comes as the law is under parliamentary review, with the draft currently not listing these products as banned.

    WHO warned that the omission contradicts National Assembly Resolution 173, effective January 2025, which already prohibits the production, trading, and import of these products. The agency stressed that a clear, comprehensive ban is essential to protect public health and prevent regulatory loopholes.

    Data from Bach Mai Hospital indicate a 70% drop in emergency visits related to new-generation tobacco since the ban. WHO and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health oppose proposals allowing production for export, citing risks of smuggling and enforcement challenges.