Contribution from Nancy Loucas
The inaugural Asia Forum on Nicotine (AFN25), hosted by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) on 27 August, was a resounding success. The event drew together global experts, advocates, and consumers to champion evidence-based harm reduction strategies tailored to the Asia-Pacific region’s staggering 781 million tobacco users, 63% of the global total.
Confronting the WHO’s Blind Spot
AFN25 sparked a vital dialogue among researchers, consumers, and regulators on rethinking tobacco control in Asia. With FCTC CoP11 looming, participants underscored the urgency of amplifying consumer voices and scientific evidence to counter the WHO FCTC’s dismissal of tobacco harm reduction (THR) as an “industry narrative”.
Keynote speaker Professor Tikki Pang praised the WHO FCTC’s past role in averting up to 24 million deaths, yet he criticized its refusal to embrace THR despite Article 1(d)’s implicit support. He warned that 8 million lives are lost annually to smoking, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, and proposed creating independent platforms for consumers, producers, and investors to bypass what he described as the WHO’s “dogmatic” stance. Quoting the maxim “Things that can’t go on forever don’t,” Pang predicted the eventual collapse of the WHO’s outdated position.
A Call for Proportionate Regulation
The unified theme at AFN25 was clear: risk-proportionate regulation must prioritize safer nicotine alternatives. Evidence from the UK’s Royal College of Physicians and real-world successes in Sweden, New Zealand, and Japan show that vaping and heated tobacco products are up to 95% less harmful than combustible cigarettes. Where governments regulate responsibly, smoking rates plummet; where prohibition dominates, illicit markets thrive.
Consumers Must Be Heard
AFN25’s participatory format, with live Q&As and expert panels, attracted thousands worldwide. It highlighted that excluding consumer advocates violates democratic principles and undermines the intent of Article 5.3 of the FCTC. For a region with the world’s heaviest smoking burden, silencing those most affected is indefensible.
The message from AFN25 was simple but powerful: THR works when allowed to, and innovation saves lives when not demonized. Consumers are ready and willing to be part of the solution, if only policymakers and global institutions will listen.
The Hypocrisy Must End
As participants stressed, the WHO cannot credibly endorse harm reduction in alcohol, drugs, and HIV prevention while rejecting it in tobacco. This inconsistency weakens trust and undermines public health. COP11 must not become another echo chamber of outdated ideology. Instead, it must seize the opportunity to align tobacco policy with evidence and consumer realities.
