The World Health Organisation, WHO, has called for member nations of its global tobacco treaty to enact a ban or establish regulations for the use of e-cigarettes and other new products from the tobacco industry in order to safeguard public health.
This plea was made during a virtual media briefing on Tuesday by the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals on the global tobacco treaty.
According to the National Institutes of Health, e-cigarettes are devices powered by batteries that individuals use to heat liquid into a vapor for inhalation. The WHO’s global tobacco treaty is a research-based agreement that reaffirms the right of all individuals to the highest possible standard of health.
Prior to the 10th Conference of Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Panama, Sabina Jacazzi, the Treaty Officer for Legal Affairs at WHO FCTC, emphasized that the novel and emerging products of the tobacco industry fall within the tobacco products category.
She further explained that the COP has made decisions regarding novel and emerging tobacco products, including heated tobacco products and Electronic Nicotine and Non-nicotine delivery systems, asserting that it has been clarified that HTPs are tobacco products and are subject to the WHO FCTC.
“With regards to the latest scientific evidence and policy recommendations on these products, I highly recommend reviewing the reports (by WHO and the Convention Secretariat) that will be considered at COP10, available online,” she elaborated.
The event also included input from experts worldwide, including Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.
In his address, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, highlighted that recent data indicates a global decrease in smoking. However, he pointed out that the tobacco industry is adopting new strategies to deceive government officials and entice the public.
Ban use of e-cigarette – WHO