The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has raised concern that the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is endangering its own mission by excluding harm reduction from its global tobacco control strategy ahead of the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP).
CAPHRA said the FCTC has drifted away from its original mandate, noting that its founding definition of tobacco control—under Article 1(d) of the treaty—explicitly includes harm reduction alongside measures to curb supply and demand.
Tobacco harm reduction is a public health approach that seeks to minimize the damage caused by smoking by encouraging the use of alternatives that do not involve combustion, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches.
Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA Executive Coordinator, stressed that harm reduction is a cornerstone of effective tobacco control. “The FCTC cannot ignore its own definition of tobacco control. Harm reduction is not an industry ploy, it is a proven, life-saving strategy. By dismissing it, the COP risks undermining global progress and betraying the very people it is meant to protect.”
CAPHRA cited countries such as Sweden, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada, which have achieved historic declines in smoking rates after adopting harm reduction strategies. Sweden, in particular, is on track to become Europe’s first “smoke-free” nation, thanks largely to the use of snus and other smoke-free alternatives.
Given that Asia accounts for over half of the world’s smokers, CAPHRA cautioned that WHO’s continued disregard for harm reduction could have severe consequences for the region. It warned that global guidance excluding harm reduction may discourage evidence-based, science-driven policymaking that could save lives.
To restore balance and integrity to the FCTC framework, CAPHRA urged the reaffirmation of harm reduction as a key pillar of tobacco control by explicitly referencing Article 1(d) in the final decision text under Article 2.1. The group also proposed the creation of a Party-Led Working Group that would allow FCTC member states to assess global evidence and national experiences with novel nicotine products—examining how regulatory approaches affect smoking prevalence, youth protection, and public health outcomes.
CAPHRA further called for transparent reporting of national harm reduction initiatives to promote the exchange of best practices and strengthen the effectiveness of global tobacco policy.
CAPHRA emphasized that the FCTC’s long-term success hinges on embracing innovation rather than rejecting it. “If the FCTC continues to ignore harm reduction, it will lose relevance and effectiveness,” Loucas warned. “Millions of lives depend on getting this right,” she said.
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