NEWS
WHY THE LACK OF URGENCY ?
The WHO wants international discussions on reduced risk alternatives to smoking delayed until 2023 due to ‘ limited time available ’.
Words : Patrick Griffin
November ’ s international debate on tobacco regulation is seen as a golden opportunity for the UK to influence international policy on vaping and harm reduction . With smoking claiming more than eight million lives around world each year , it was due to discuss vaping and other reduced-risk alternatives to cigarettes . The COP9 conference will take place online between November 8-13 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic . However , the World Health Organization says discussions on novel and emerging tobacco products should be delayed until 2023 . The WHO argues that because of ‘ restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic ’ only an ‘ abridged agenda ’ can be discussed and there is not enough time for the vaping section . Tobacco control expert Clive Bates , from the Counterfactual , said : “ Whatever the timetable , we can rely on the WHO to produce antivaping propaganda and push for vaping prohibition , casually and carelessly putting millions of lives at risk . “ The problem isn ’ t what goes into the meeting agenda , but the fact that the WHO actually wants to ban vaping while cigarettes are available everywhere .” New Zealand-based tobacco harm reduction expert Dr Marewa Glover told FilterMag : “ Whether by incompetence or design , the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat seems intent on ensuring that eight million people per annum will continue to die from using tobacco in harmful ways . The new nicotine and tobacco products provide the fastest route to prevention of this death toll and the FCTC is set on complete prohibition and delaying any challenge to their position .” Meanwhile the WHO continues to deliver an anti-vaping message and talks about a ‘ global tobacco epidemic ’. In July it spoke of the need to ‘ tackle threats posed by new nicotine and tobacco products and critics say failing to debate the issue will just lead to more confusion about the role of reduced risk products in helping smokers quit .
The problem isn ’ t what goes into the meeting agenda , but the fact that the WHO actually wants to ban vaping while cigarettes are available everywhere .
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