WHO Told To Support Harm Reduction
Trade and consumer groups call on WHO to support harm reduction following a meeting of international parliamentarians
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by Dave Cross
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The trade and consumer harm reduction groups from around the world met to discuss the threat to tobacco harm reduction if the WHO’s Conference of the Parties (COP9) continues in its current anti-vaping trajectory.
The meeting was co-hosted by the UK Vaping Industry Association’s Director-General John Dunne and Mark Pawsey. It saw over 20 international organisations come together to discuss the WHO’s long-standing anti-harm reduction stance towards alternative products to combustible tobacco, including e-cigarettes, heat not burn and snus.
Groups in attendance shared concerns that international public health is at risk if the WHO continues to dismiss the clear evidence supporting these products.
John Dunne said: “Time and time again the WHO has ignored the evidence; contributing to rising levels of misinformation and preventing millions of smokers from making an informed choice on their health.
“COP9 could be a critical turning point for the international vaping community which is change peoples’ lives every day. At the Conference, the United Kingdom has a duty to lead the charge against the WHO and be proud of its record so far. The UK delegation should use its influence to encourage other delegations to back the science and follow its example.
“We know the pressures of Governments, particularly over the last 18-months, and that’s why we called this meeting to coordinate efforts and support parliamentarians everywhere.”
Mark Pawsey MP said: “The UK is in a unique position and a world-leader on these matters.
“It’s extremely worrying to hear this rhetoric coming from the WHO regarding the harm reduction alternatives to cigarettes. We know that cigarette smoke contains many toxic or carcinogenic constituents. It is these toxic by-products of combustion that are responsible for smoking related death and disease, which are not present in the various alternative products.
“Vaping products reduce harm and help save a great many lives. It’s time we unequivocally gave them our support and not muddy the waters with falsehoods. I hope the UK Government’s delegation champions our record and takes heed of the recommendations the APPG put forward in its report.”
The APPG’s report was discussed at the virtual roundtable. It makes several recommendations ahead of COP9, including that the UK should position itself as a global leader in harm reduction in relation to smoking cessation, and not be afraid to assert its national sovereignty against the WHO’s anti-vaping agenda. Additionally, it recommended that the UK delegation to COP9 should propose the establishment a COP Working Group on harm-reduction.
Representatives from national governments that attend COP9 will be instrumental in shaping global policy over the coming years towards e-cigarettes and other less harmful alternative nicotine products.
The various groups which attended this roundtable will be talking to their respective Ministers for Health, encouraging them to advocate for harm reduction products and to follow the example of the UK Government.
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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