Panama hosted the Conference of the Parties tenth session (COP10), under the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, focusing on demand reduction, supply reduction, and harm reduction. The conference explored advanced technology, environmental impact, and enforcement of laws against the tobacco industry, emphasizing public health rights.
In India, the key focus should be on scientific harm reduction strategies and explore cutting-edge technology with policymakers worldwide. A risk-based approach, regulating products based on toxicants, should be considered instead of implementing a blanket ban. By integrating better and safer alternatives and prioritizing the reduction of smoking prevalence, India can work towards diminishing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths.
Lakshmi Ramamurthy, Hon. Trustee of the Centre for Public Policy Research, presented her insights on policy measures to mitigate tobacco harm in India. She highlighted that India’s 2019 e-cigarette ban did not differentiate between different product classes, despite acknowledging this distinction in the 2021 finance bill for taxation purposes. Despite acknowledging the distinction between traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and HTP, this distinction has not been applied in the context of the ban.
To combat the tobacco epidemic, India must prioritize scientific and fact-based solutions, such as harm reduction strategies that offer safer alternatives. Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, and Canada have embraced safer alternatives within their global tobacco control policies.
