In this Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 file photo, a customer blows a cloud of smoke from a vape pipe at a local shop in Richmond, Va.The tobacco industry said the WHO is influencing countries to impose arbitrary tax and regulations on nicotine alternatives.
Tobacco industry leaders are calling on the World Health Organisation as well as governments across the globe to rethink regulation and taxing of tobacco alternatives, as debate rages on over whether these products signal a commitment to harm reduction – or a cynical attempt whitewash nicotine consumption.
They argue that the WHO is influencing governments to regulate these products by unfairly"comparing them to clean air". Concerns have also mounted in some quarters over the potential dangers of e-cigarettes, with Medico recently banning vaping and some Australian schools moving to install vape detectors in bathrooms to alert teachers to pupils using the devices.
"Hundreds of millions of lives could be saved by the innovations under way in the industry now. Technology is bringing us solutions we never imagined before. WHO is taking this position against us, and it is just maddening," said Bates. PMI global head of regulatory policy and external affairs Agnieszka Wyszynska Szulc said the WHO and governments of the world should consider the science behind nicotine alternatives and their consumption and place"positive change over punishment".