Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) 2022: the transformation of the tobacco industry is irreversible.
The topics of technology development and expansion of alternative ways to deliver nicotine to the body, as well as changes in government regulation of the tobacco industry, dominated the discussions at the Global Nicotine Forum (GFN) held in Warsaw late last week. It was noted that the authorities of different countries, paying lip service to the health of their nations, ignore the transformation of the global tobacco industry, which seeks to reduce the health risks for consumers of their products. Alternative sources of nicotine delivery into the body are not safe for human health, but they carry significantly lower risks for those who do not want to give up the consumption of nicotine products. There are 1.1 billion adult smokers in the world who do not give up the habit, and they should have access to information and choice: alternative ways of delivering nicotine to the body, proven by numerous scientific studies, have significantly less harm to humans. At the same time, as the organizers and participants of GFN point out, the World Health Organization (WHO), despite the importance of the topic of nicotine consumption in the world, will never accept the invitation to participate in such a forum: they have other goals, the desire to reduce nicotine consumption to zero and completely ignore the transformation of the tobacco industry. By putting itself in aggressive opposition to the industry, WHO rejects the possibility of a gradual transition to a smoke-free world and respect for the choices of those who want to consume nicotine. Nicotine, on a par with caffeine, sugar, alcohol is addictive to the consumer, but none of these industries is subject to the same regulation and pressure as the tobacco industry. But the tobacco industry itself seeks to transform itself by creating less harmful products. It is emphasized that on a par with WHO in the Global Forum on nicotine will never participate representatives of pharmaceutical companies: they are interested in selling products on the one hand to completely rid the consumer of nicotine addiction, on the other - to sell drugs for the treatment of diseases associated with smoking classic cigarettes. Participants of GFN pay attention to the fact that the authorities should look closely to the processes of transformation of the industry, conduct competent and flexible regulation, leaving room to stimulate innovation. The tobacco industry produces legal products that are heavily taxed, but it must be regulated based on the risks that certain products pose to human health. GFN has been held annually since 2014 in June, the only international conference dedicated to the role of safer nicotine products in helping people quit smoking. Hosted by the world's leading experts, nicotine users and advocates, GFN addresses the scientific, regulatory and policy issues surrounding safer nicotine products and their critical role in reducing tobacco-related harm. //20.06.2022 - InfoMarket.
