Harm-reduction experts and consumers should be included in tobacco control policy discussions to help smokers globally, according to the World Vapers Alliance.
In the report “Rethinking Tobacco Control: 20 Harm-Reduction Lessons the FCTC Should Take Note Of,” the WVA said the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2025, should include civil society in the discussion because they can provide valuable real-world experience and insights.
“Their involvement can lead to more effective, evidence-based strategies to reduce smoking-related harms and improve public health outcomes,” the WVA said.
The WVA said the WHO-FCTC should respect adult choices. “Smokers and ex-smokers want to be treated as capable adults making informed decisions, not as subjects of a paternalistic nanny state. Policies that respect individual autonomy while providing accurate information are more likely to succeed,” it said.
The report said it is crucial to reflect on the evolving landscape of tobacco control. It said the WHO-FCTC should realize that prohibition doesn’t work, citing the case of Australia, where strict regulations on vaping have led to a thriving black market and continued high smoking rates. “Embracing harm-reduction is more effective than bans,” it said.
Consumer advocacy group Consumer Choice Philippines supported the report, saying new technologies have emerged to provide smokers with better alternatives to cigarettes.
“Consumers should be heard, and the WHO-FCTC should respect their rights to have access to smoke-free products that lessen their exposure to harmful substances. Nicotine is not the problem, but it is the smoke from tobacco products that contain toxicants,” said Consumer Choice Philippines chairman Adolph Ilas.
The WVA report said that by treating smokers and ex-smokers as capable adults and providing them with accurate information and a range of less harmful alternatives, “we can achieve better public health outcomes.”
It noted the success of harm reduction in Sweden, where snus, nicotine pouches and vaping use decreased cigarette smoking prevalence to as low as 5.6 percent, lower than the EU average of 24 percent.
The WVA also asked policymakers to consider the full spectrum of harm-reduction tools available, including vaping products with a variety of flavors and nicotine pouches, to provide smokers with the best possible chance of quitting.
“By doing so, we can accelerate the decline in smoking rates and significantly reduce the burden of smoking-related diseases on our healthcare systems and society as a whole,” it said.
The WVA cited the economic benefits of harm-reduction strategies in terms of lower healthcare costs and prevention of productivity loss. “The widespread adoption of these strategies could lead to significant public health savings,” it said.
Alternative nicotine products could play a critical role in reducing the enormous health burden caused by smoking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Former smokers who switched to harm-reduction products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches experienced improved quality of life in terms of better breathing, smell, taste and overall health.
“This improvement in daily life can be a powerful motivator for continued abstinence from smoking,” the report said.
Harm-reduction products also eliminate secondhand smoke concerns, contributing to cleaner air in public spaces, the WVA said. Human biomarker studies demonstrate the harm-reduction potential of tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
“Even partial switching to less harmful alternatives can be a step toward complete smoking cessation. This gradual approach can be less daunting for some smokers,” the WVA said.
The WVA said while the aim to reduce and eventually eradicate smoking is laudable, the WHO FCTC’s outdated and dogmatic approach to tobacco control has become a significant obstacle to public health progress.
“As we look toward the next decade of tobacco control, it’s time for the FCTC to learn from these experiences and incorporate harm reduction more fully into its framework. By doing so, we can accelerate progress toward a smoke-free future and save millions of lives,” it said.