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Daily Express
20 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Express
GFN promotes tobacco harm reduction rationales to policy decision makers
Published on: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 30, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: This year's GFN theme is 'Challenging Perceptions – Effective Communication for Tobacco Harm Reduction', gathered together global experts and stakeholders to forge strategic communication to reshape narratives and support evidence-based approaches to nicotine use and public health. WARSAW: The 12th edition of the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN 2025) aims to get the right message to decision makers all around the world on the need to have alternative nicotine delivery products for those who could not give up nicotine use to curb smoking-related diseases and deaths. Experts agree that tobacco harm reduction can be a valuable public health strategy for reducing the negative impact of damaging behaviours in individuals who are unable or unwilling to quit smoking. Smoke-free products could reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. Meanwhile, the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which was reported to be heavily funded by Michael Bloomberg, continues to promote a one-size-fits-all, abstinence-only model. The result has been restrictive bans on safer products while combustible cigarettes remain widely available. This year's GFN theme is 'Challenging Perceptions – Effective Communication for Tobacco Harm Reduction', gathered together global experts and stakeholders to forge strategic communication to reshape narratives and support evidence-based approaches to nicotine use and public health. The event was held from June 19 to 21, 2025, at the Presidential Hotel (formerly the Marriott) in the CBD heart of Warsaw, Poland to show how global tobacco and nicotine regulation discussions lack consumer representation, disadvantaging smokers and vapers. It was said that the World Conference on Tobacco Control overlooks harm reduction strategies, favouring prohibitionist policies influenced by figures like Michael Bloomberg and the World Health Organization (WHO). The upcoming COP11 and EU regulations could shape future nicotine policies, potentially blocking safer alternatives. Despite successful harm reduction examples in certain countries, for example, the EU is leaning towards restrictive measures like flavour bans and tax hikes. This should be challenged. Advocates emphasize the need for evidence-based, consumer-centric policies to combat smoking-related illnesses. Policymakers face a crucial decision: prioritize public health or maintain outdated ideologies at the expense of consumer well-being. UKM Prof. Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, chair of the Malaysia Society for Harm Reduction and a panel speaker at GFN 2025 said: 'We can raise awareness in the community. We can train frontline staff in tobacco harm reduction. But if we don't have the safer nicotine products available, we are not achieving the change we need to achieve. 'In Malaysia, as well as in many other low and middle-income countries, tobacco control is very traditional. It's basically a prohibitionist approach which tries to ban everything under the sun, not only tobacco, but now also alternative nicotine products. 'Coming from an NGO, the Malaysian Society for Harm Reduction, we try to educate and advocate, but most of this falls on deaf ears. We are seen as arms of big tobacco, even though the research we produce is not funded by tobacco companies. 'I think there's a lot of failure stories, but there are a lot of success stories as well on the use of alternative nicotine products all over the world that low and middle-income countries can actually emulate, success stories like Japan, the UK or New Zealand,' said Prof. Dr Sharifa. The progress of tobacco harm reduction is being slowed by a paradox: as the scientific basis steadily consolidates, public perceptions are worsening by government's vilifying propaganda on alternative nicotine delivery products which are overlooked in smoking cessation protocols. At the GFN 2025 session on 'What I Hear vs. What I Know: Battling Misinformation from the Newsroom to the Facebook', panel speaker Maria Papaioannoy-Duic of Canada, said: 'What I've learned is when science doesn't back tobacco control's story, they don't revise the policy, they rewrite the story, not with facts, but with fear, drama and deliberate misinformation. 'In the fight for access to safer nicotine products, the truth isn't just ignored, it's attacked, silenced and mocked. A health official makes a statement, a journalist runs with it, a politician amplifies it, and suddenly it's viral. Meanwhile, we, consumers, advocates, we're in our chat groups, we are sharing sources, correcting headlines and trying to hold the line with science, evidence and facts.' According to Maria Papaioannoy-Duic, who is the founder and spokesperson of Rights 4 Vapers, the misinformation is institutional, not only in Canada, but around the world. Health agencies, regulators, even doctors, often repeat outdated or debunked information, sometimes out of fear, sometimes out of habit, and most times because they just don't have the time to learn. 'And the thing is, tobacco control knows this, and they capitalise on it. No one wants to really defend nicotine, because it's not sexy. But this isn't about being liked, it's about eradicating smoking, and that means telling the truth even when it's uncomfortable.' Maria Papaioannoy-Duic revealed that in 2022, the Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey broke down the numbers on relative risk and beliefs among Canadians and found that 81 per cent of Canadians either misunderstood or had no idea that vaping is safer than smoking. 'And when we look at people who smoke, 79 per cent didn't know that vaping is safer, and among those who smoke but have never tried a vaping product, a staggering 90 per cent believed vaping is as bad or worse. 'These are the very people who stand to benefit the most from switching to safer alternatives, yet misinformation has left them stuck, misled, confused and still smoking. They truly believe, because of where they go to get their information, that smoking that cigarette will keep them alive longer and healthier than switching to a vape. 'My 2009 self would never believe what is happening in 2025. Millions of us who quit smoking with safer alternatives are now being told we're wrong. Instead of tobacco companies being the villains, it's us, people who use safer nicotine products and speak up and out about it, we are cast as the threats. 'Globally, governments are pushing their citizens to break the laws just to access a vape or pouch because the alternative to them is going back to smoking. When it comes to policy, science should take the lead, but in this space, emotion seems to win. Panic spreads faster than peer-reviewed studies. Tobacco Control is a well-oiled and frankly spoiled machine. It has no hesitation to reframe the narrative, to make anyone that goes against them the enemy, including folks who speak up for safer nicotine products. 'To them, we're the enemy, because we're telling the world nicotine isn't the problem, combustion is. So, what do we do? We continue to push back with facts, with strategy and with heart, and most importantly, with action, from rallies to letters, from bus tours to social media, from simple pop ups to emails, we find a way to tell our story. 'When you show up calmly with credible information and lived experience, that's when cracks start to form. When voices come together, when harm reduction meets medicine, meets policy, meets lived experience, that's when we get traction. So, whether you're an advocate, a policy maker, a health professional, someone trying to make a difference in your own circle, facts matter. Continue to share them, because lives depend on them. We are the public health heroes. We're the ones that have to push the narrative and we're the ones that have to keep moving forward,' Maria Papaioannoy-Duic stressed. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? 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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Punjab govt outlaws tobacco-use in parks
Listen to article The Punjab government has declared all public parks across the province smoke-free zones, banning the use, sale, and promotion of tobacco and nicotine products under the federal anti-tobacco law. A notification issued by the provincial housing department extends the enforcement of the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance, 2002, to recreational parks. The ordinance prohibits smoking in public spaces and restricts the sale and advertisement of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes. Under the directive, all Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHAs) in Punjab have been instructed to install 'No smoking' signage within 10 days and begin strict enforcement. Offenders can face fines of up to Rs1,000 for a first violation, with harsher penalties for repeat offences. Park staff are empowered to eject violators, and designated enforcement officers may pursue legal action under Section 12 of the ordinance. Kiosks, food outlets, and vending stalls within parks are now barred from selling cigarettes, vapes, or other tobacco-related products. The new policy targets both traditional and emerging nicotine products, aiming to curb use especially among minors and urban youth. Health officials referred to the potential of the move to reduce second-hand smoke exposure and discourage smoking in family-oriented spaces. 'This is a welcome initiative,' said Amina Tariq, a mother of two visiting the Jilani Park. 'Parks should offer a clean and safe environment, not only for recreation but for promoting healthy habits in our children.' According to experts, tobacco use is responsible for an estimated 164,000 deaths annually in the country and costs the national economy roughly Rs700 billion each year in healthcare expenditures and productivity losses. The industry contributed Rs298 billion in tax revenue last year. Pakistan ratified the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004. Despite this, implementation remains inconsistent, particularly regarding taxation, marketing restrictions, and regulation of newer products. There are no federal regulations governing e-cigarette use even as usage surges. A 2023 multi-city survey found that 43 per cent of urban youth reported current e-cigarette use, with many introduced through influencer campaigns lacking health warnings or age restrictions.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
PM Must Act To End Tobacco Industry Interference In His Government
Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to show leadership and strip NZ First of the tobacco and vaping portfolio, following damning revelations of collusion between NZ First and tobacco giant Philip Morris. A detailed RNZ investigation uncovered documents showing Philip Morris provided NZ First with a draft piece of regulation which the Deputy Prime Minister at the time Winston Peters supported. Winston Peters was described by JUUL representatives as "industry friendly and highly geared towards commercial interests." NZ First reportedly assured Philip Morris they would "put that draft into the policy mix." The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which New Zealand signed in 2005, explicitly warns of the "irreconcilable conflict" between the goals of public health and the interests of the tobacco industry. Under this treaty, governments must protect health policy from tobacco industry interference. "By allowing tobacco industry influence, this Government is breaching its obligations under the World Health Organization convention, says Professor Chris Bullen, Health Coalition Aotearoa tobacco spokesperson and University of Auckland professor. "These documents confirm what many have long feared: tobacco companies are influencing health policy in Aotearoa. The Prime Minister must demonstrate he expects the highest standards of integrity from his Ministers and reallocate the tobacco and vaping portfolio," says Professor Bullen. Tobacco companies' intensive and covert lobbying comes as no surprise. However, evidence NZ First MPs have been complicit in these arrangements will shock the public, who expect higher standards from politicians. The evidence in the media today gives an explicit example of how officials are exposed to communications, meetings and relationships with a powerful industry on policy that is supposed to be protecting public health. And yet another example of this Government favouring commercial interests over people's lives and health. Winston Peters told reporters yesterday "I've always been industry friendly". Matching rhetoric of NZ First Minister Shane Jones last year confirmed Philip Morris External Relations Manager Api Dawson was involved in 'soundings' about the party's tobacco policy. Professor Bullen says the revelations offer Luxon a clear opportunity to put New Zealanders' health ahead of dirty politics. "This is a test of leadership. He must reassign the tobacco and vaping portfolio to someone with no ties to the industry. New Zealanders expect transparency and a Government that acts with integrity. "The Government has already damaged Aotearoa New Zealand's international standing by repealing popular, widely acclaimed smokefree measures - a move that has seen a stall in the decline of smoking prevalence, while inequities persist. "The RNZ revelations show serious lack of judgement by this Government. It must end now. We are spending billions treating preventable diseases caused by smoking, while politicians allow the industry to keep selling the products that cause these harms. It's reckless and it's wrong," says Professor Bullen. Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling for: Immediate reassignment of the tobacco and vaping portfolio from NZ First to a politician free of any ties to the industry, and who will prioritise New Zealanders' health over corporate profits. The Ministry of Health to exclude the nicotine industry from policy processes, interact only when necessary, and document all interactions in alignment with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which Aotearoa is a Party. Stronger rules on lobbying and conflicts of interest across government. Health Coalition Aotearoa is running a campaign to mitigate the harmful impact of industry involvement in public health policy. The Government to prioritise the advice and expertise of those working to reduce tobacco and nicotine harm when changing tobacco policies. "All the current Government's coalition parties have links to the tobacco industry. That must end," said Professor Bullen. "The Prime Minister has a choice: run a government based on integrity or stoop to a new level of dirty politics. He must act now."
News18
22-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Customs, DRI seize 3.93 cr cigarette sticks till Jun this fiscal
New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Customs authorities and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized about 3.93 crore sticks of cigarettes in the current financial year up to June this year to check the sale of illicit tobacco in the market, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. Further, the CGST (Central Goods and Service Tax) zones and DGGI (Directorate General of GST Intelligence) have detected 61 cases of Guthka, chewing tobacco, cigarettes, pan masala involving tax amounting to about Rs 104.38 crore till June this fiscal. 'Customs Field Formations and DRI have seized around 3.93 crore sticks of cigarettes in the current financial year up to June 2025," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. India is a party to World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and has ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, he added. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also working with the Department of Revenue for the implementation of a track and trace mechanism for tobacco products in accordance with a provision of FCTC protocol, the minister said. PTI RR BAL BAL Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Star
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
MPOWERing the world
THE 'strongest possible measures' against vaping should be adopted as the devices – aimed at putting nicotine back on the agenda – are as bad as cigarettes, says Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. Countries are now dealing with the same tactics and approaches the world experienced with tobacco cigarettes to a 'disgraceful degree', he said. 'We were caught off guard by the onset of vaping. 'Now there is research on the evils of vaping and Ireland has introduced substantial legislation to deal with it including banning the sale of vapes (or e-cigarettes) to those under 18,' Martin said in his opening speech at the recent World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) in Dublin. In the battle against tobacco, he stressed that a 'relentless focus' on children is critical. 'Many of my friends started smoking at ages nine and 10. We have to be extremely vigilant,' he said, adding that Ireland wants to work with other countries in keeping the global population safe from the harms of tobacco products. 'I have always been a strong opponent of vapes because there was very little due diligence done on the composition as well as the health impact of these devices. 'It's extraordinary that vapes ended up on the shelves without any real health and safety analysis (being done prior),' he said. Concurring, World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products could pose serious health threats, especially to children. 'The marketing is aggressive, the appeal of their products is strong, and regulation is often weak. 'But our vigilance on new products must go hand-in-hand with intensified action on conventional tobacco products,' he said. CLICK TO ENLARGE 'The 2025 WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, which we are launching here, shows that the MPOWER ( see infographics ) measures introduced in 2008 to support the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) international treaty, are working. 'Around the world, 155 countries have implemented at least one MPOWER measure at best-practice level but despite the rise in regulation, new tobacco products are being introduced and pushed to the youth,' he said, adding that to protect the next generation from tobacco-related diseases and death, all countries must commit to implementing at least one more MPOWER measure at best-practice level within the next year, and those that have passed laws on tobacco control must enforce them rigorously. Researchers, he stressed, must continue building the evidence base on the health impacts of new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products. 'Legislators and regulators must ban flavours and designs in vapes that are designed to attract children and young people. 'And, to truly make a meaningful difference in tobacco control, we must embrace our youth and place them at the centre of our efforts,' he said, adding that tobacco control is central to tackling noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), an agenda at the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September. During the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control ceremony, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, Michael R. Bloomberg, said for all we've accomplished, there's so much more to do. The Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies founder, who announced a new US$20mil (RM84.8mil) Accelerator Fund to help advance progress in countries where tobacco control is stalled, said the work has gotten harder especially for organisations that received funding from the United States. 'I know there's a lot of concern that foundations will pull back on funding, too. So let me just say this: Global public health is a driving passion and we are not backing off. Not one inch. 'Bloomberg Philanthropies will work with partners to proactively engage governments and NGOs in several low- and middle-income countries that either lack best-practice tobacco control measures or are close to implementing all best-practice measures,' he pledged. Bloomberg announced a new US$20mil fund to help countries where tobacco control is stalled. — Bloomberg Philanthropies Governments and non-governmental organisations of India, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, the Philippines and Ukraine, were presented with the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control at the WCTC. Where Malaysia stands Malaysia's Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) – the country's first standalone law that covers all aspects of tobacco control, including the regulation of vapes – is laudable but 'there's always room for improvement', WHO FCTC Secretariat senior lawyer Kate Lannan said. In April, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad acknowledged that there was a missed opportunity to ban vaping at the federal level but said the situation could always be revisited. The Generational Endgame (GEG) ban, part of Act 852, was originally intended to prohibit individuals born on or after Jan 1, 2007, from purchasing or smoking tobacco products, including vapes. However, the GEG element was removed from the final Bill due to constitutional issues. Johor and Terengganu, however, have since enacted local government laws to halt the issuance of operating licences and prohibit the sale of vape products within their respective states. Lannan said the WHO had been tracking the progress of the Bill as it went through the legislature and is 'pleased with various aspects of it'. 'Malaysia recently received the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award so you are definitely doing a lot of things right. 'But of course, there's always something more every nation can do to deepen and intensify the implementation of the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) that goes beyond the mere checking of boxes,' she said. Commenting on the government's issuance of an interim nicotine manufacturing licence to a company, shortly after Dr Dzulkefly, the Health Ministry's Disease Control Division deputy director Dr Noraryana Hassan and Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) president Assoc Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, were presented with the WHO award on May 19, Lannan said it is not the role of the Secretariat to take a party to task for elements not specifically covered in the FCTC. 'The Health Minister may not have known about this as there are other authorities involved but we have no doubt that Dr Dzulkefly will safeguard the public health of Malaysians,' she said. The minister, who was among the recipients of a prestigious WHO award, had been 'carefully vetted and clearly researched' before being acknowledged for his contributions. 'The award is an important recognition of the progress Malaysia (has achieved in tobacco control). The recipients have done a great job. And, there is no doubt in our minds that the minister will protect public heath in Malaysia. We have every confidence in that,' Lannan said during a press conference at the WCTC. According to the WHO Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 Report, Malaysia has achieved best practice level for all MPOWER measures except two – offering help to quit tobacco use, and enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
