The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new position paper on tobacco control and harm reduction, reiterating its long-held scepticism ahead of next week’s 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The paper provides specific guidance on the minimum regulations the WHO recommends countries apply to non-combustible products to protect public health.
The paper warns that all tobacco, nicotine and related products – including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and smokeless tobacco – pose health risks and are addictive. The WHO cautions governments and the public against the deceptive “harm reduction” claims made by the tobacco and nicotine industries.
