Illicit Trade Skyrockets In Asia Pacific

Recent data paints a troubling picture of the unintended consequences of overzealous regulation: 

• In Australia, the net tax gap on tobacco excise and customs duty has skyrocketed to 13.1%, more than doubling from 5.4% in 2016-17 [1]. 
• The Asia Pacific e-cigarette and vape market is projected to grow at an alarming CAGR of 34.6% from 2024 to 2030, with a significant portion potentially coming from unregulated sources [2]. 
• Organised crime syndicates are increasingly involved in the illicit tobacco trade, exploiting regulatory gaps and consumer demand [3]. 

"Governments across Asia Pacific must wake up to the reality that their heavy-handed approach is backfiring spectacularly," said Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates. "By implementing draconian regulations on legal tobacco harm reduction products, they are inadvertently creating a thriving black market that puts consumers at risk and funnels money into criminal enterprises." 

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates is calling on governments to immediately reassess their regulatory strategies: 

1. Acknowledge the role of harm reduction: Recognise that safer alternatives to traditional smoking can play a crucial role in public health strategies. 
2. Implement sensible regulations: Develop balanced policies that ensure product safety and quality without driving consumers to dangerous black market alternatives. 
3. Engage with stakeholders: Work collaboratively with public health experts, industry representatives, and consumer advocates to develop effective, evidence-based policies. 
4. Prioritise enforcement: Allocate resources to combat the real threat of illicit trade rather than over-regulating legal, safer alternatives. 

Loucas added: “The current approach is not just failing – it's actively harmful. Governments must act now to stem this tide of illicit trade before it spirals further out of control. The health and safety of millions of Asia Pacific citizens hang in the balance.

“CAPHRA urges media outlets, policymakers, and concerned citizens to take note of this pressing issue and demand immediate action from their governments.” 

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations. Its mission is to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.

CAPHRA says it remains committed to advocating for the rights of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region to access and use evidence-based, regulated, and properly marketed harm reduction products as a means of reducing the devastating impact of smoking-related diseases. 

“We encourage further research, open dialogue, and collaboration with governments, health organisations, and stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcomes for public health,” it says.

References:

• The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates - https://caphraorg.net

Photo Credit:

• Photo by Lisheng Chang on Unsplash

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave 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.