Stories

Kenya's Ministry of Health is seeking public input on a plan requiring cigarette manufacturers to include graphic health warnings covering 80% of packaging. The initiative aims to educate about tobacco risks, discourage use, and reduce consumption. With 8.6% of Kenyans smoking in 2020, the government aims to cut this to under 5% by 2025. However, the tobacco industry argues the plan fails to differentiate between cigarettes and safer nicotine products like pouches. They advocate for separate regulations for tobacco and nicotine items.

Although there have been steady declines in smoking prevalence rates in most high-income countries, tobacco smoking remains a leading cause of premature death and preventable disease globally(Di Cesare et al., 2013). In some low-and middle-income countries, with growing economies and more liberalattitudes, the number of smokers is rising. Globally, while the total percentage of people smoking is decreasing, because of the growing population the total number of people smoking is still increasing and forecast to continue.

Researchers found that most sponsored Instagram posts related to e-cigarettes promoted their use to adolescents or portrayed them positively, violating FDA regulations. The study analyzed 51 posts with influencers and vape ambassadors. Despite warnings, social media exposure is linked to increased e-cigarette use among youth. Current regulatory policies are insufficient in limiting such content. Educational efforts should employ engaging marketing techniques to deter youth from e-cigarette use. Healthcare organizations must provide accurate information on platforms like Instagram to counter misleading messages. This study underscores the importance of addressing the spread of pro-e-cigarette messaging on social media.

India banned e-cigarettes in 2019 following WHO guidelines, influenced by tobacco control groups and economic factors. Despite court challenges, the ban was supported by the government, significant tobacco donations, and lack of local research. The decision was driven by political and financial interests rather than public health, denying over 100 million smokers access to safer nicotine consumption methods. The regulatory pathway favored by courts was ignored, leading to a ban that benefitted the tobacco industry. Juul's entry into India and foreign expertise also played a role in the outcome, as local industry voices were absent from the debate.

Spain approved a new anti-smoking plan focusing on more smoke-free areas, higher cigarette prices, and stricter vaping regulations. The plan aims to increase cigarette prices, expand smoke-free zones, and tighten vaping rules to align with tobacco products. The Ministry of Health plans to ban single-use vapes and increase fines for littering, while also introducing plain packaging for tobacco and e-cigarettes. The laws will reform smoking regulations with some changes expected to take effect by the end of the year. The plan does not ban smoking on terraces, campuses, or beaches yet, but it lays the groundwork for potential future restrictions.

Recent research presented by the American College of Cardiology suggests that e-cigarette use may increase the risk of heart failure by 19%. However, the study, based on data from the All of Us Research program, has limitations in terms of methodology and transparency. Skepticism surrounds the findings, with experts questioning the causal link between vaping and heart disease. While further research is needed, existing evidence supports vaping as a safer alternative to smoking for smoking cessation. The debate continues amid conflicting studies on the impact of vaping on heart health.

As the longest-serving director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and founding Dean of Georgia State University’s School of Public Health, Dr. Michael P. Eriksen is a veteran tobacco control warrior and national leader in the fight to end smoking-related disease and death. In this episode of RegWatch, we ask Dr. Eriksen about the crucial years when big tobacco was exposed for deceiving the public, tobacco control’s reaction to the explosive popularity of e-cigarettes, the FDA’s current regulation of the U.S. vaping market, and what he thinks about public health’s war on vaping.

EU MEP Radka Maxová predicts a shift towards harm reduction policies in tobacco control within the European Parliament. She highlights potential influences from newly elected members and the need for nuanced regulation of novel tobacco products. Despite conservative positions dominating the EU Commission's tobacco policy proposal, there's growing awareness of harm-reduction benefits. Maxová emphasizes the importance of evidence-based harm reduction strategies and the need to differentiate between harmful and safer tobacco alternatives. Diverse opinions among MEPs and member states pose challenges to revising EU tobacco directives.

There are debates over banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products as the Ministry of Health proposed a ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products whereas the Ministry of Industry and Trade wants to legalize the two products. Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that the Ministry of Health has submitted many documents to the Government and to the Ministry of Industry and Trade clearly expressing the ministry's views on this issue.