The tenth Conference of Parties (COP 10) of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) meeting on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is currently ongoing in Panama until February 10th, 2024.
Discussions at COP 10 revolve around tobacco policies that have a significant impact on national regulations, particularly in Low and Middle-Income countries where WHO regulations hold considerable influence. Amidst these deliberations, advocates for non-combustible products, such as vapes, nicotine pouches, and heat-not-burn products, are pushing to be included in the conversation.
Despite recognition by esteemed bodies like the US Food and Drug Administration and Public Health England as less harmful than traditional smoking, the WHO maintains a strict regulatory stance towards these products, viewing all nicotine use as inherently harmful and subject to regulation.
The exclusion of harm reduction advocates from the discussions has led to the organization of alternative events on the sidelines of COP 10, with activists and organizations, including The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), prompting conversations on this matter.
Kurt Yeo, a co-founder of VSML (Vaping Saved My Life) in South Africa, and a speaker at one of the TPA side events, engages with policymakers in South Africa on tobacco and nicotine-related legislation. Yeo expressed his perspective on the reluctance to include harm reduction in the conversations, highlighting the need for open dialogue and the changing landscape regarding harm reduction products.
He further emphasized the rapid growth of harm reduction products globally, questioning the discrepancy in legalizing cannabis for personal use while imposing vaping bans in South Africa. Yeo noted the discrepancy, attributing it to politics rather than sound policy.
According to the WHO, the number of smokers has surged by 104% in North Africa and the Middle East and by 75% in Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1990s, marking the highest increase in the prevalence of smokers worldwide.
With these discussions taking center stage at COP 10, the debate over tobacco control, harm reduction, and transparency continues to captivate global attention.