Latest news with #WCTC
The Star
7 days ago
- Health
- The Star
When avatars smoke
WHILE smoking worldwide has been in decline for much of the last 20 years, the most recent trend lines point to a flattening of cigarette sales. This is mainly because sales among youth, especially young women, are increasing in a substantial number of countries, says global health advocate Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet. Billions are being spent by the industry on longstanding practices like political lobbying and campaign contributions, as well as the production of colourful, flavoured e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine pouches, to hook youngsters to nicotine, added the Vital Strategies president and CEO when met at the WHO World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC). Drawing on data from the Tobacco Enforcement and Reporting Movement (TERM), Vital Strategies researchers revealed the growing presence of tobacco products in emerging digital spaces including the meta-verse, advergaming, and Ts. The study highlighted how brands are leveraging on immersive technologies – such as virtual concerts, branded avatars, and digital storefronts – to promote tobacco products, often targeting youth in every corner of the Internet where regulations are weakest. 'As digital platforms become the primary spaces where young people learn, socialise, and play, we urgently need coordinated international action to modernise safeguards and close regulatory gaps before a new generation is exposed to harm,' said behavioural scientist and Vital Strategies vice president Dr Nandita Murukutla. Marketing in the metaverse Nandita, who led the creation of Canary, a digital surveillance platform that monitors online marketing of harmful products, said of particular concern is that the spaces targeted, including immersive virtual events, gaming and immersive platforms, are overwhelmingly full of young audiences and influencer-driven content that promotes tobacco in subtle, engaging ways. 'Policymakers often lament, 'We see it online but it's gone and we have no proof how to address it'. They needed proof to stop online marketing which was what led to Canary. Our goal is to identify emerging threats before they become big problems,' she said, adding that the organisation has been monitoring these digital spaces in India, Mexico and Indonesia, but hopes to expand its work if resources permit. Nandita: As digital platforms become the primary social space for young people,we urgently need coordinated international action to modernise safeguards. Brand extension strategies, for example perfumes with a tobacco product brand, is being widely used to ensure that vapes and HTP brands are visible, she said. Online, influencers are being paid to talk about the tobacco products they are using to 'educate' their young followers on what to use and how to use it. 'We are also seeing lots of glamourised lifestyle promotions on immersive digital platforms with cool, tech-forward images, and calls on users to create avatars of themselves in the metaverse so there is actual engagement via technology between the youth and industry. 'By getting youth into the metaverse, where smoking bans do not apply, the use of tobacco products is promoted and normalised. 'Even online gaming platforms are being used to promote tobacco products,' Nandita said. The digital space is growing as a tobacco trap for youth and women. Brand affiliation with community groups particularly in popular sports like football and badminton, and in entertainment events, are also ways youth are being drawn in to tobacco use, she added. Meanwhile, women are targeted via corporate social responsibility programmes and special events like Women's Day and Mothers Day. Where's the outrage? There's been so much anger over kids being bullied online yet there is no outrage when the very same population is being sold harmful tobacco products online, lamented Nandita. 'It's shocking. Why are parents and the public not upset and demanding more action? 'It's because they don't know how much digital marketing is going on online. 'There needs to be greater advocacy and education of the general population,' she said. A new global analysis by the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) on data from 2012 to 2021 reveals alarming levels of youth exposure to tobacco marketing across 119 countries. Conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, and Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, the study presented at the recent World Conference on Tobacco Control, highlighted the persistent global influence of tobacco industry tactics on adolescents aged between 13 and 15. 'Our findings revealed that far too many young people around the world continue to be exposed to harmful tobacco marketing tactics – exposure that risks initiating a new generation into tobacco use,' said CDC Foundation programme officer and evaluation specialist Adriana Dragicevic. The results underscore the urgent need for stronger enforcement of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), particularly Article 13, which calls for a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, to shield young people. Regulations work Where there are good regulations, there are lower volumes of marketing and the nature of marketing changes, Nandita noted. And where there are strong laws, the marketing through third party retailers and brand affiliate groups, brand extensions, and community marketing, becomes much more indirect. 'Governments need the capacity to monitor these insidious campaigns and this is where working with civil society groups like ours become vital to flag and remove these online advertisements. 'As Malaysia is rolling out enforcement (of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024), an inter-ministerial framework is crucial because jurisdiction will often lie outside of the Health Ministry. 'The authorities responsible and the processes (of implementation) must be clear,' she said, adding that the WHO guideline on digital marketing regulations would prove useful. It's a fallacy to claim that because promotional and marketing activities are being done online, governments are helpless to act, she pointed out. What's important is to have a regulatory framework, enforcement mechanisms and efforts to create social norms that reinforce the regulations. 'For example, now when the public sees someone puffing in no-smoking areas, they know that it's unacceptable and they will tell the smoker to put out the cigarette. 'Having paper regulations alone is not enough to ensure effective implementation but it is an important starting point,' she stressed, highlighting the importance of cross-border cooperation for the respective nations to implement their regulations and the FCTC, particularly in relation to digital marketing. Health taxes, said Dr Etiebet, remain one of the most effective, yet underutilised strategies to save lives, strengthen economies and generate new government revenue. 'Public health proponents are calling on countries to urgently adopt health taxes on harmful commodities,' she said, sharing how a new tool from Vital Strategies, Economics for Health at Johns Hopkins University, and American Cancer Society, can support countries in their efforts to estimate the tax revenue gain possible depending on different potential tax scenarios. Released on June 17, the Cost Recovery and Revenue Estimator (CoRRE) is an interactive data modeling tool that builds country-by-country scenarios to demonstrate how tobacco taxes generate millions in revenue and can help countries recover millions in smoking-related costs to realise the 'triple win' of saving lives, reducing health care costs and generating revenue, she said. Vital Strategies works with governments and civil society organisations around the world to support tobacco control initiatives that are aligned with the World Health Organisation (WHO) FCTC and MPOWER tobacco reduction measures. All interviewees featured were participants of the WHO World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC). Held from June 23 to 25 in Dublin, Ireland, the three-day conference was organised by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Held from June 23 to 25, the WCTC serves as a pivotal gathering for tobacco control experts, policymakers, and advocates from around the globe. — Photos by International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
The Star
7 days ago
- Health
- The Star
MPOWERing the world
THE 'strongest possible measures' against vaping should be adopted as the devices – aimed at putting nicotine back on the agenda – are as bad as cigarettes, says Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. Countries are now dealing with the same tactics and approaches the world experienced with tobacco cigarettes to a 'disgraceful degree', he said. 'We were caught off guard by the onset of vaping. 'Now there is research on the evils of vaping and Ireland has introduced substantial legislation to deal with it including banning the sale of vapes (or e-cigarettes) to those under 18,' Martin said in his opening speech at the recent World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) in Dublin. In the battle against tobacco, he stressed that a 'relentless focus' on children is critical. 'Many of my friends started smoking at ages nine and 10. We have to be extremely vigilant,' he said, adding that Ireland wants to work with other countries in keeping the global population safe from the harms of tobacco products. 'I have always been a strong opponent of vapes because there was very little due diligence done on the composition as well as the health impact of these devices. 'It's extraordinary that vapes ended up on the shelves without any real health and safety analysis (being done prior),' he said. Concurring, World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products could pose serious health threats, especially to children. 'The marketing is aggressive, the appeal of their products is strong, and regulation is often weak. 'But our vigilance on new products must go hand-in-hand with intensified action on conventional tobacco products,' he said. CLICK TO ENLARGE 'The 2025 WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, which we are launching here, shows that the MPOWER ( see infographics ) measures introduced in 2008 to support the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) international treaty, are working. 'Around the world, 155 countries have implemented at least one MPOWER measure at best-practice level but despite the rise in regulation, new tobacco products are being introduced and pushed to the youth,' he said, adding that to protect the next generation from tobacco-related diseases and death, all countries must commit to implementing at least one more MPOWER measure at best-practice level within the next year, and those that have passed laws on tobacco control must enforce them rigorously. Researchers, he stressed, must continue building the evidence base on the health impacts of new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products. 'Legislators and regulators must ban flavours and designs in vapes that are designed to attract children and young people. 'And, to truly make a meaningful difference in tobacco control, we must embrace our youth and place them at the centre of our efforts,' he said, adding that tobacco control is central to tackling noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), an agenda at the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September. During the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control ceremony, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, Michael R. Bloomberg, said for all we've accomplished, there's so much more to do. The Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies founder, who announced a new US$20mil (RM84.8mil) Accelerator Fund to help advance progress in countries where tobacco control is stalled, said the work has gotten harder especially for organisations that received funding from the United States. 'I know there's a lot of concern that foundations will pull back on funding, too. So let me just say this: Global public health is a driving passion and we are not backing off. Not one inch. 'Bloomberg Philanthropies will work with partners to proactively engage governments and NGOs in several low- and middle-income countries that either lack best-practice tobacco control measures or are close to implementing all best-practice measures,' he pledged. Bloomberg announced a new US$20mil fund to help countries where tobacco control is stalled. — Bloomberg Philanthropies Governments and non-governmental organisations of India, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, the Philippines and Ukraine, were presented with the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control at the WCTC. Where Malaysia stands Malaysia's Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) – the country's first standalone law that covers all aspects of tobacco control, including the regulation of vapes – is laudable but 'there's always room for improvement', WHO FCTC Secretariat senior lawyer Kate Lannan said. In April, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad acknowledged that there was a missed opportunity to ban vaping at the federal level but said the situation could always be revisited. The Generational Endgame (GEG) ban, part of Act 852, was originally intended to prohibit individuals born on or after Jan 1, 2007, from purchasing or smoking tobacco products, including vapes. However, the GEG element was removed from the final Bill due to constitutional issues. Johor and Terengganu, however, have since enacted local government laws to halt the issuance of operating licences and prohibit the sale of vape products within their respective states. Lannan said the WHO had been tracking the progress of the Bill as it went through the legislature and is 'pleased with various aspects of it'. 'Malaysia recently received the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award so you are definitely doing a lot of things right. 'But of course, there's always something more every nation can do to deepen and intensify the implementation of the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) that goes beyond the mere checking of boxes,' she said. Commenting on the government's issuance of an interim nicotine manufacturing licence to a company, shortly after Dr Dzulkefly, the Health Ministry's Disease Control Division deputy director Dr Noraryana Hassan and Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) president Assoc Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, were presented with the WHO award on May 19, Lannan said it is not the role of the Secretariat to take a party to task for elements not specifically covered in the FCTC. 'The Health Minister may not have known about this as there are other authorities involved but we have no doubt that Dr Dzulkefly will safeguard the public health of Malaysians,' she said. The minister, who was among the recipients of a prestigious WHO award, had been 'carefully vetted and clearly researched' before being acknowledged for his contributions. 'The award is an important recognition of the progress Malaysia (has achieved in tobacco control). The recipients have done a great job. And, there is no doubt in our minds that the minister will protect public heath in Malaysia. We have every confidence in that,' Lannan said during a press conference at the WCTC. According to the WHO Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 Report, Malaysia has achieved best practice level for all MPOWER measures except two – offering help to quit tobacco use, and enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Will Governments Firewall Public Health From Tobacco Industry's Lies And Deceptive Tactics?
A new WHO report launched in June 2025, warrants stronger measures to save lives from deadly tobacco and nicotine products and hold industry liable An import declaration adopted last week calls upon the governments of the world to accelerate the implementation of all measures under the global tobacco treaty in order to end the tobacco epidemic. Among other actions, it urges countries to: "Recognise the tobacco industry as the biggest barrier to global progress in tobacco control. Reject engagements with organisations working with, or funded by, the tobacco industry. Hold the tobacco industry liable for the harms it causes, including seeking compensation through legal actions." As the World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) 2025 concluded in Ireland - with the WCTC Declaration reaffirming global commitment—and in the lead-up to the upcoming intergovernmental meeting on the global tobacco treaty (formally called the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control or WHO FCTC) later this year, the tobacco and nicotine industries have once again been exposed for using the same old tactics and misinformation to hinder public health advocates from implementing stronger measures to save lives from tobacco-related harm. There is a plethora of overwhelming and growing strong scientific evidence since decades that tobacco causes preventable and life-threatening diseases and untimely deaths. Despite 183 State Parties committing to global tobacco treaty 20 years back and implementing it with domestic laws, every year over 8 million people die of tobacco use. Tobacco continues to be the biggest preventable cause of death worldwide – with most of these deaths taking place in the Global South. Tobacco industry's so-called 'Techno-innovation' is just another tactic to push profits over people's health and lives 'Products that cause preventable diseases and untimely deaths of its consumers like tobacco or nicotine, cannot be associated with positive words like 'techno' or 'innovations'. Tobacco industry uses the garb of such dark lies and deceptive phrases to distract us from enforcing lifesaving tobacco control policies,' says Akinbode Matthew Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in Nigeria. 'We need to understand why so-called 'techno-innovation' meet of world's largest tobacco industry, Philip Morris International, was held in South Africa: South Africa had passed one of the most promising tobacco control laws 20 years back. Many African countries too had adapted that law in their own contexts since then. South African government is currently updating this law to make it even more effective in saving lives from tobacco and nicotine. Regulating electronic cigarettes or vaping or other such 'new' tobacco products, total ban on point-of-sale and direct advertising of all tobacco and nicotine products vaping products (like e-cigarettes etc), and protect youth from manipulative marketing, amongst others, are part of the reforms South African government's new law is proposing,' said Akinbode. 'That is why Philip Morris International is using the same-old tricks and tactics to delay, dilute or water-down lifesaving tobacco control policies in South Africa as well as other countries in Africa. Africa has weak policy environment when it comes to banning e-cigarettes or vaping etc. Tobacco and nicotine industry is trying to exploit this to earn more profits,' said Akinbode. 'Tobacco industry is not only attacking Africa but public health globally. In the garb of 'reducing cigarette use' it is trying to hook our children and youth to its tobacco and nicotine products to make even more profits, with scant regard to their health or lives.' He was speaking in a special media briefing organised during the WCTC online, by Corporate Accountability, Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT), Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media), Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), Health TV Online Nepal, and Citizen News Service (CNS). WHO Report on Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 says e-cigarettes harmful WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said around the report launch that 'The evidence is clear: e-cigarettes are harmful, particularly for children and adolescents. We cannot allow a new generation to become dependent on nicotine.' 'This report clearly states that tobacco industry interference remains one of the greatest threats to the adoption, implementation and enforcement of effective tobacco control measures. It states that countries must ensure that tobacco control policies remain robust in the face of tobacco industry interference. This report also outlines a century of tobacco industry interference in public health policy and tactics used by it,' said noted lawyer Daniel Dorado Torres, Tobacco Campaign Director, Corporate Accountability. He added: 'This WHO Report 2025 also states that tobacco industry, which now also manufactures and sells emerging nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, has a long history of opposing and obstructing public health efforts to protect people from tobacco. Tobacco industries sell the harm, the hook, and now the palliatives. This is not a transformation – rather it looks a lot like vertical integration.' Daniel Dorado cited examples of music festivals in Colombia where tobacco and nicotine industry was promoting its deadly products to the young people. 'Make no mistake - this is advertising. Just repackaged for political and social legitimacy.' Governments must enforce science-based tobacco control policies and protect public policy from tobacco industry interference 'It was a historic first when first-ever legally-binding corporate accountability and public health treaty (WHO FCTC) came into force 20 years back. We have made progress in advancing lifesaving tobacco control measures, despite tobacco industry interference at all levels. But that is not enough. Governments need stronger actions in implementing science-based tobacco control policies to save lives from tobacco or nicotine, as well as ensure that public policy remains safeguarded from any kind of tobacco industry interference across sectors. Tobacco control is not only a job of Ministry of Health but warrants a whole-of-government approach to save lives,' said Dr Tara Singh Bam, Board Director of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT) and Asia Pacific Director for Tobacco Control, Vital Strategies. Dr Tara Singh Bam added: 'To #EndTobacco and #endNicotine, we need to ensure that there are clear roadmap and timebound targets. It is high time we recognise that a tobacco and nicotine free generation becomes possible.' Kalpana Acharya and Ram Prasad Neupane, journalists from Nepal shared that media in Nepal have played a stronger role in helping advance tobacco control and expose tobacco industry interference in public policy. It's time to make Big Tobacco pay 'We appeal to all governments that have ratified the global tobacco treaty to take stronger action in advancing progress in holding tobacco industry legally and financially liable. We have to make big tobacco pay, for the harms it has caused to human life and our planet since decades,' said Daniel Dorado Torres of Corporate Accountability. He called upon everyone to act now by endorsing the campaign (online at "It's time to make Big Tobacco pay for its abuses!" Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
