Vapers Digest 12th May
Friday’s News at a glance:
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) – Lives will be saved if the WHO changes its view – CoEHAR researchers opposes study findings – Major ‘trust gap’ in vaping – Kiwis Shame Australian Attack – RCSI Members Attack UK Approach – Sweden Must Defend Its Success – Lords Questions in Parliament – Colin Mendelsohn examines the latest vaping restrictions – FDA Grilled Over Destructive Vaping Regulations – Preview of the 10th Global Forum on Nicotine 2023 – Is it time the WHO reconsidered – Why isn’t anyone talking about smoking anymore? – Local vape store says wrong move has been made – Over 90 million Illicit Vapes and not a Single Dollar for Enforcement – Nicotine Science and Policy Daily Digest
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(FCTC) and the Conference of the Parties (COP): an explainer (updated April 2023)
Knowledge•Action•Change
From 20-25 November 2023, government delegations from around the world will meet in Panama City to discuss tobacco and nicotine policy at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Decisions taken at these meetings influence how international tobacco control policies are implemented at a national level. These decisions will be very significant in determining the future of safer nicotine products (SNP), such as nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes), snus, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products. Consumer access to these products is crucial to realise the public health potential of tobacco harm reduction in the global fight against tobacco-related death and disease.
This GSTHR Briefing explains what the FCTC is, what COP meetings are and how they operate. It also ends with some preliminary notes on the upcoming COP 10 regarding discussions potentially relevant to SNP.
Lives will be saved…
If the WHO changes its view on e-cigarettes – Patrick Basham
The good news about reduced risk tobacco and nicotine products is the bad news is wrong. Regulated adult consumption of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and snus is not as dangerous as smoking cigarettes.
Instead, it is a massive advancement in global public health. Anyone who argues otherwise is out of touch with both the science and the real-world evidence.
It is indeed true that most well-funded public health institutions and stakeholders are rabidly anti-tobacco harm reduction and predictably anti-vaping.
CoEHAR researchers opposes study
On pulmonary inflammation caused by vaping
With a letter sent to the editor of the prestigious The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, CoEHAR researchers want to clarify the results of a pilot study that used tomography to compare lung inflammation between smokers and non-smokers. According to the research team from Catania, led by prof. Riccardo Polosa, the analysis of the images does not prove any causality between the use of electronic cigarettes and related lung damage.
According to Prof. Polosa: “The study does not present any causality between data and the hypothesis according to which there would be health complications for vapers”.
🇪🇺Consulta pública UE. TU PARTICIPACIÓN ES ESENCIAL para dejarles claro que #ElVapeoSalvaVidas
Sigue nuestra guía ⬇️https://t.co/nDE8acp1i0
— ANESVAP (@anesvap) May 12, 2023
“As more people turn to alternative nicotine products, there is a growing need for governments around the world to support this trend and take a more proactive role in encouraging smokers to quit cigarettes”https://t.co/r524wtNiDF
— European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (@europethra) May 11, 2023
Major ‘trust gap’ in vaping
Amongst British smokers new report reveals
The poll of 2,000 smokers revealed a growing distrust in switching to vapes. Nearly 38% who lack trust, say it could stop them from attempting to quit their smoking habits through vaping in the future.
The government’s independent Kahn Review said vaping had a central role to play in a smokefree future across the country, with more than six and half million smokers still in the UK. And evidence last year by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) re-confirmed that vaping was at least 95% less harmful than smoking.
Four from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes:
Kiwis Shame Australian Attack
Kiwis lead the way towards reducing harm from tobacco due to the New Zealand Government’s progressive and welcomed stance on vaping, believes the regional consumer organisation – the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates (CAPHRA). The stance is now a shining light in comparison to Australia’s newly announced “war on vaping” which doubles down on their failed medical model for nicotine.
As we reported last week, Australian politicians are promising a fresh “crackdown” to combat a “new generation of nicotine addicts”.
RCSI Members Attack UK Approach
Writing an article for The Conversation, Donal O’Shea and Gerry McElvaney, two members of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), have launched an attack on the UK Government’s pledge to improve the promotion of vaping to current adult smokers. They ludicrously claim that switching to e-cigs means smokers are “swapping one health risk with another”.
Recently, the Department of Health announced that it plans to roll out a programme whereby free vape starter kits are going to be offered out to one million adult smokers in an effort to encourage them to quit smoking and reduce their exposure to harm.
Sweden Must Defend Its Success
Sweden must defend its successful harm reduction approach, the World Vapers’ Alliance’s director Michael Landl believes. Sweden is the most successful country worldwide in reducing smoking rates, but the Swedish approach is under pressure from the EU and the World Health Organisation.
To urge the Swedish government to defend its consumer-friendly approach towards snus, vaping, and nicotine pouches, consumers held a protest in front of the Swedish parliament.
Lords Questions in Parliament
This week we consider fantasies and a web of political conflicts featuring characters from many years ago. No, this is not a new series of Game of Thrones, it is our coverage of the questions and answers about vaping and tobacco harm reduction – not from Westeros but from the House of Lords, a game of moans.
Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour) asked His Majesty’s Government, “what assessment they have made of the damage to the marine environment caused by the disposal of single use vapes.”
AUSTRALIA’S WAR ON VAPING
Colin Mendelsohn examines the latest vaping restrictions
The Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN), which has taken place every year since 2014, is the only international conference to focus on how vapes, nicotine pouches, Swedish snus and heated tobacco can help people switch away from smoking. Building on the success of an event that attracts hundreds of in-person participants and thousands of online delegates, GFN•TV, a broadcast arm of the GFN stable, is now offering year round coverage of the issues that matter in tobacco harm reduction.
Cross-Examination
FDA Grilled Over Destructive Vaping Regulations | RegWatch
FDA’s single-minded focus on protecting youth from nicotine vaping products over the well-being of adult smokers is finally undergoing severe scrutiny. Recently a panel of Fifth Circuit judges, joining other courts across the country, took FDA to task for what it calls an unlawful de facto ban on flavored e-cigarettes.
But the courts are not alone in grilling the agency over its shifting criteria and moving the goalposts for approval of vaping products in the U.S.
GFN.TV Interviews
Preview of the 10th Global Forum on Nicotine 2023
Get the inside scoop on the speakers and presentations at GFN23 with Jessica Harding, program director of the Global Forum on Nicotine 2023
The Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN), which has taken place every year since 2014, is the only international conference to focus on how vapes, nicotine pouches, Swedish snus and heated tobacco can help people switch away from smoking. Building on the success of an event that attracts hundreds of in-person participants and thousands of online delegates, GFN•TV, a broadcast arm of the GFN stable, is now offering year round coverage of the issues that matter in tobacco harm reduction.
Is it time the WHO reconsidered …
Its antagonism to the tobacco industry?
The European Commission is under fire for not being quite open enough about its relationship with the tobacco industry. Last month the European ombudsman questioned why many arms of the Commission did not fully disclose all their meetings with industry representatives; Jean-Paul Garraud, a rightist Member of the European Parliament from France, subsequently waded in on the same issue, and unless there is a quick resolution, it will be no surprise if others follow.
Why isn’t anyone talking about smoking?
Smoking is still considered very harmful and dangerous to one’s health, and many organizations, health professionals, and governments continue to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking. However, it’s possible that the message about smoking’s negative effects may not be as prominent in the media or public discourse as it once was.
One possible reason for this is that, over the years, there has been a significant decrease in the number of people smoking. Claims that this decrease is due to widespread education campaigns, stricter regulations on tobacco products, and increased public awareness of the negative health effects associated with smoking.
Vape store says wrong move has been made
A Bundaberg vape business owner has warned that the Federal Government’s crackdown on the recreational habit will only exacerbate the current underground market and hurt legitimate businesses.
Last week Federal Health Minister Mark Butler made the announcement that a nation-wide ban on non-prescription vapes would be a key commitment in the Federal Budget with $737 million earmarked for stronger legislation, enforcement, education and support around vaping and smoking.
Over 90 million Illicit Vapes
And not a Single Dollar for Enforcement:
The Health Minister’s blatant failure to allocate a single dollar towards black market vaping enforcement in the budget shows that he has no real plan to manage the escalating youth vaping crisis.
“Despite announcing a ‘vape police’ crackdown last week, the Health Minister has not developed any solid plan, nor has he sought funding from the Treasury, his own Department, Cabinet, or the Expenditure Review Committee,” ACCS CEO Theo Foukkare said
On this Day…2022
A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise….
Will Brazil rethink vaping prohibition?
Clive Bates, The Counterfactual
O Brasil vai repensar sua proibição de vaping?” Brazil is consulting on lifting its ban on vaping products. Will it recognise the perverse consequences of prohibition and shift to risk-proportionate regulation? We argue it should rethink its approach to nicotine.
Brazil’s public health agency, ANVISA, has been consulting on whether the long-standing policy of prohibition of vaping products should be retained or lifted. The consultation questionnaire seeks comments on a technical document.
Shortcut to full response (PDF). Here’s my take…
Smoking cessation policies Brazil & UK:
Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction.
In a recently published paper, “Health protection, public policies for smoking cessation and regulation of electronic cigarettes in Brazil and the UK: a study of comparative public law”, by Costanza Nicolosi, expert in the economics of legal regulation and Ph.D. in law, the author analyzes the legal approach taken by two countries, UK and Brazil, in e-cigarettes’ regulation, marketing, and production
Some countries have no specific control on e-cigarettes, while others implement a series of bans: in such a fragmented landscape, every action taken by public authorities can affect the way consumers approach e-cigarettes.
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