The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is thrilled to announce that New Zealand has achieved its Smokefree 2025 goal well ahead of schedule, with smoking rates plummeting to unprecedented lows.

Recent data from the New Zealand Health Survey reveals that smoking rates have fallen dramatically, particularly among youth. The decline has been so significant that statisticians now struggle to accurately measure the small proportion of young smokers due to sample size limitations.

Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, commented on this remarkable achievement:

“New Zealand’s success in reducing smoking rates is a testament to the country’s progressive approach to tobacco harm reduction. By embracing vaping and other less harmful alternatives, we’ve seen smoking rates drop from 11.9% in 2020 to an astounding 6.8% in 2023. This is a clear indication that our strategy is working.”

The success is particularly notable among young people, with youth smoking rates reaching historic lows. “The fact that we’re having difficulty measuring youth smoking rates due to their minuscule prevalence is a cause for celebration,” Loucas added. “It’s a clear sign that we’re winning the battle against smoking-related harm.”

Despite this undeniable success, some in the tobacco control and public health sectors seem reluctant to acknowledge the effectiveness of New Zealand’s approach. Loucas expressed her frustration with this attitude:

“It’s perplexing that some individuals in tobacco control can’t seem to accept our successful strategy. We’ve achieved what many thought impossible, yet instead of celebrating, they’re focusing on potential issues with vaping. We need to recognise this victory and continue supporting policies that have proven effective in reducing smoking rates.”

CAPHRA urges policymakers and health advocates worldwide to look to New Zealand as a model for successful tobacco harm reduction. The organisation emphasises the importance of embracing evidence-based approaches that include a range of less harmful alternatives to smoking.

“Our success story should be a wake-up call for countries like Australia who are still clinging to prohibitionist policies,” Loucas concluded. “It’s time to put aside preconceived notions and focus on what works – a pragmatic, harm-reduction approach that prioritises public health over ideology.”

CAPHRA remains committed to advocating for sensible policies that continue to drive down smoking rates while providing adult smokers with safer alternatives.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) issued a sharp critique 24 January 2024 of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) for its exclusion of consumer groups and harm reduction advocates from the Tenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10).

“CAPHRA argues that this exclusionary practice is in stark contrast to the successful, pragmatic approaches of countries like New Zealand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, which have embraced vaping as a harm reduction tool,” said Nancy Loucas, a public health policy expert and passionate advocate for tobacco harm reduction and executive coordinator of CAPHRA.

The press release condemns the WHO FCTC’s COP10 meetings for silencing the voices of those who advocate for harm reduction strategies, such as vaping, which have been shown to significantly reduce smoking prevalence in countries where they are available and regulated.

CAPHRA points out that the prohibitionist approach of countries like Australia, which recently banned vaping products, is not in the best interest of public health.

“CAPHRA calls on FCTC officials to open their minds to harm reduction and to consider the evidence from countries like New Zealand, where smoking rates have decreased due to the availability of regulated vaping products,” said Ms Loucas.

The organisation stresses the importance of including consumer groups in the decision-making process, as they provide essential insights into the needs of smokers and how alternative products can be used effectively.

“Concerns raised by EU member states about being excluded from negotiations at COP10 and the need for transparency and inclusivity in discussions that impact public health.”

CAPHRA’s criticism aligns with reports that the WHO is influenced by special interest groups and that the FCTC has become restrictive in its engagement with NGOs, creating an echo chamber that ignores the potential benefits of harm reduction strategies. “CAPHRA urges the WHO FCTC to re-evaluate its stance on harm reduction and to engage with all stakeholders, including consumer groups, to develop effective tobacco control policies that prioritise public health and respect the Right to Health,” Ms Loucas said.

Firstly, Nancy evaluates the latest tobacco and e-cigarette regulations proposed by the New Zealand government, describing them as an attempt to reduce smoking rates in a more innovative and progressive way. The new regulations focus on protecting children, but the actual issues lie more in the enforcement of laws rather than the e-cigarette products themselves. She emphasizes that the core problem is not the e-cigarettes themselves, but rather how to better enforce existing laws.

New Zealand has recently implemented the “Generational End Game” policy, aimed at reducing smoking rates in the long term. However, there seems to be an overlap with the new legislation in place. Nancy argues that considering New Zealand’s current low rates of teenage smoking, these new regulations might be excessive. Nonetheless, she believes that such legislation appears appealing and could have a positive impact.

In addition, Nancy pointed out that there are obvious differences in e-cigarette policies between Australia and New Zealand. Compared to Australia’s conservative approach, New Zealand demonstrates a more open and progressive strategy. Interestingly, despite implementing a stricter medical model, Australia’s smoking rates have remained stagnant or even risen, while New Zealand has successfully reduced smoking rates. This to some extent reflects the effectiveness of the policies implemented.

During the final stage of the conversation, Nancy criticized Australia’s prescription model for e-cigarettes. This model treats regular consumers as patients or addicts, with doctors urging them to quit smoking, which ordinary consumers are often reluctant to accept. She also proposed that, in certain circumstances, people should be allowed to obtain e-cigarettes through medical means, especially for groups with a high demand for e-cigarettes, such as patients receiving treatment in mental health institutions. Policymakers should fully consider these special circumstances.

The original article, authored and published by 2FIRSTS, can be found here: https://www.2firsts.com/news/comparing-tobacco-and-e-cigarette-policies-in-new-zealand-and-australia

COP10 will be held in Panama in November. It is hosted by the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates) executive co-coordinator Nancy Loucas says: ‘This exclusion of the consumer voice has been one of the main reasons for the misinformation, disinformation and failures of current tobacco control policy around nicotine – including vaping, snus and heated tobacco products.’

She says the FCTC has a mandate to not only pursue Harm Reduction as a core tobacco control policy, but also to involve and include civil society. However, there has yet to be a signatory country which has made the progressive and inclusive call to include consumer stakeholders in their delegations.

This is not the first time members of CAPHRA have written to governments sending delegates to 2023. Late last year they urged them to review the evidence which supports a Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) approach. It included comprehensive reference material for countries’ COP10 planning, submission writing, and deliberations.

‘Consumers are an untapped experience and knowledgebase who are not represented inclusively in the FCTC process… Delegates to COP10 should be representing the rights and aspirations of the citizens,’ the latest letter outlines.

The letter also makes clear that adults have the right to make choices that help them avoid adverse health outcomes and people who smoke have the right to access less harmful nicotine products as alternatives to combustible and unsafe tobacco. What’s more, they have the right to participate in the policy making process that directly impacts their right to health and wellbeing.

‘As you are undoubtedly aware, the FCTC has a mandate to pursue Harm Reduction. While everyone agrees on the desirability of getting all consumers to stop smoking, arguments concerning means to achieve this have been divisive and, in many cases, complicated, often with deliberate misinformation,’ writes the latest letter to government delegations.

Ms Loucas says it’s outrageously undemocratic that the current process does not allow for engagement and involvement of the main policy stakeholders – the adult consumer community.

“Not only does the FCTC choose to ignore growing international science, it bans from the table the very voice of those who utilise these products to switch away from the deadly forms of tobacco,” says Ms Loucas

The THR advocate says the member organisations of CAPHRA will continue to call on delegates to COP10 to deplore FCTC’s policy to make these sessions closed-door, unaccountable, and unreported – representing only vested interests.

“Millions have successfully used vaping to move away from combustibles and unsafe oral nicotine products, yet the FCTC looks set to bury its head in the sand again at COP10. CAPHRA believes visiting delegations must include a consumer voice to give at least some balance to all the misinformation,” says Ms Loucas.

Titled ‘The Subversion of Public Health: Consumer Perspectives’, the recently released white paper hits back at the WHO’s claim that ‘never-smoker minors who use ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) can double their chance of starting to smoke tobacco cigarettes later in life.’

“The use of ENDS does not cause cigarette smoking. Far more likely, is that those same influences that incline young people to smoke also incline them to use ENDS. These factors might include genetics, family circumstances, mental health, school environment, delinquency, risk-taking etc. This is known as ‘common liability’, says the white paper.

“The ‘gateway effect’ has been disproven time and time again. Vaping is an offramp to smoking, not an onramp. Rest assured, most young people vaping will have smoked or would-be smokers if vaping wasn’t around,” says Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates).

“We are dead against minors vaping, but let’s also remember smoking behind the bike sheds in the old days had much worse health consequences,” she says.

The authors also took exception to the WHO’s claim that both tobacco products and ENDS pose risks to health and that the risks associated with both are likely to depend on a range of factors, some relating to the products used and some to the individual user.

‘No respectable scientist believes that ENDS are even close to the risk of smoking. The question: ‘Are e-cigarettes more dangerous than combustible smoking’ is itself an absolute scandal, designed to introduce an anchoring bias’, says the white paper.

“What really annoys us THR advocates is that the WHO constantly compares deadly smoking with considerably less harmful products, making it seem they are equally dangerous. It’s a deliberate comparison which only leads to serious health consequences as people abandon vaping and go back to cigarettes or don’t switch to safer nicotine products in the first place,” says Ms Loucas.

On the WHO’s claims that there is growing evidence that e-cigarettes cause lung injuries, the white paper concludes it’s a ‘shameful and outright falsehood’.

‘There is no ‘growing evidence’ that ENDS could cause lung damage of the type seen in the United States between June and December 2019. On the contrary, since July 2019, there has been growing and now conclusive evidence that this outbreak has nothing at all to do with ENDS,’ the authors hit back.

“We will continue to publish key parts of our review into the WHO’s guidance which they alarmingly provide to signatories and delegates of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

“All we’re asking for is evidence-based and objective policy discussions, decisions, and risk proportionate regulations. That’s how the FCTC will reduce the harms of combustible and unsafe tobacco products globally,” says Nancy Loucas.

‘The Subversion of Public Health: Consumer Perspectives’ was presented by Ms Loucas at the recent Fifth Asia Harm Reduction Forum (AHRF 2022). To read the full white paper, visit: https://caphraorg.net/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/white-paper-subversion_of_public_health.pdf

To view Nancy Loucas’ presentation, visit: https://caphraorg.net/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/AHRF_presentation_2022-powerpoint-presentation.pptx

The Right2Switch petition urging the WHO to respect consumer rights and end its lies against vaping has now been signed by over 10,000 people. It can be viewed and signed at https://change.org/v4v-petition

Nearly eight hours of forum footage is now available on the AHRF 2022 YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o1hXi4aAak

AVCA co-founder, Nancy Loucas, agrees with the overall intent of the bill to help New Zealand achieve smokefree. She has concerns, however, about convenience stop owners flouting the law as has been seen in pockets since the 2020 vaping regulations and restrictions.

“ Making new regulations without consistent and effective enforcement is an exercise in futility. There will be push back from some convenience store operators who have already shown by selling vaping products to minors that they are more concerned with revenue than the public good,” says Ms Loucas.

In Budget 2021 the Government boosted funding for health promotion programmes and to scale up stop-smoking services. Budget 2022 then saw additional funding to establish a tobacco products regulator and support the implementation of the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan.

“Vaping is saving thousands of Kiwi adult smokers’ lives, but it gets a lot of negative media coverage because too many minors are still getting their hands on vaping products. Those born in 2009 or after are fast becoming teenagers. Subsequently, many will try to access cigarettes and the sanctions to retailers who sell to them must be high, with stings regular and well resourced,” she says.

AVCA says it supports in principle creating a smokefree generation but is concerned around the legalities of restricting one consumer product to a cohort of Kiwis once they’ve reach adulthood. The move could also fuel an already existing black market and only entice more youth to rebel.

Ms Loucas says while supportive in principle, very low nicotine cigarettes could also be a human rights violation with AVCA strongly believing all adults have the right to make informed choices. The move too could see people heading to the black market or growing their own tobacco.

“The Government needs to make sure the smokefree generation move holds up legally. Very low nicotine cigarettes should also be phased in over say five years. Yes to limiting and registering tobacco retailers. If they are then caught selling to minors, they should lose their licence forthwith. No ifs, not buts, no maybes. We will only beat youth smoking and reach Smokefree 2025 if this new tougher tobacco regime is rigorously enforced,” says Ms Loucas.

AVCA says since the vaping regulations took effect, Kiwi smokers have continued to access every tobacco brand under the sun in thousands of outlets, while popular adult vape flavours have been limited to just three in general retail. The latest bill, it believes, will help level the playing field, giving smokers more motivation and ease the switch to safer nicotine products.

“I’m pleased the Government is set to roll out a new quit-smoking campaign later this year and we’re delighted that vaping continues to be a key tool in official smoking cessation messaging and programmes. Crunching tobacco access and appeal is now well overdue,” says Nancy Loucas.

To read more about the smokefree amendment bill and to make a submission by 24 August, visit https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_125245/smokefree-environments-and-regulated-products-smoked-tobacco

About AVCA
AVCA was formed in 2016 by vapers across New Zealand wanting their voices heard in local and central government. All members are former smokers who promote vaping to help smokers quit – a much less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco products. AVCA does not have any affiliation or vested interest in industry – tobacco, pharmaceutical and/or the local vaping manufacturing or retail sectors.

A key question WHO poses is: ‘Are e-cigarettes more or less dangerous than conventional tobacco cigarettes?’ CAPHRA says WHO should have unequivocally answered this with ‘less’. Instead, it puts vaping and smoking on the same footing, declaring that ‘both tobacco products and ENDS pose risks to health. The safest approach is not to use either.’

“If you were a smoker desperate to quit reading this Q&A, you’d likely stay smoking. WHO refuses to differentiate between vaping and smoking. At best it completely deflects from answering what are very simple and straight-forward questions. More so, it delivers lie after lie,” says Ms Loucas.

“The fact that WHO even poses a question about whether vaping is more or less dangerous than smoking is a disgrace. Rather than giving a straight one worded answer, WHO refuses to acknowledge international science that has repeatedly confirmed vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking,” she says.

CAPHRA believes WHO’s suggestion of parity between smoking and vapingis deeply unethical and could have serious health consequences if it causes people to abandon ENDS for cigarettes or not to switch.

“No respectable scientist believes that ENDS are even close to the risk of smoking. In fact, Public Health England stands resolute behind the finding that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking combustible cigarettes,” she says.

CAPHRA concludes that by kicking off the ‘question and answer’ page with such an inflammatory question, which WHO then refuses to clearly answer, is designed to introduce an ‘anchoring bias’ into its public health guidance.

“WHO does its best to establish the idea that the question on everyone’s mind is whether ENDs are as dangerous as cigarettes. By then suggesting parity of risk, the reader is left with a best-case scenario that vaping is probably just as bad as smoking. Outrageously, WHO continues to defy science and totally ignore the experiences of consumers worldwide,” she says.

For anyone left wondering after reading WHO’s questions and answers on e-cigarettes, CAPHRA is now compiling a comprehensive dossier of references from medical doctors, researchers and government-funded agencies. All of these will categorically refute the claims made by WHO in its guidance.

CAPHRA says while WHO continues to dig in on its unjustifiable anti-vaping position, internationalFCTC ( Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) delegates have an opportunity next year to ensure public health guidance on vaping finally reflects the reality: It’s saving smokers’ lives as an effective and harm reduced smoking cessation tool.

Panama is set to host WHO’s 10th FCTC Conference of Parties (COP10) in 2023, which will seedelegates having discussions and making recommendations on safer nicotine products.

“About 70 countries have already ignored WHO’s anti-vaping crusade and regulated vaping. Countries at next year’s COP10 need to fully understand that millions of smokers’ lives will depend on their discussions and decisions. It’s well overdue for WHO to follow the evidence, rather than winding up baseless and constant hysteria,” says Nancy Loucas.

Boasting over 15,000 testimonials, CAPHRA is calling on those who’ve quit cigarettes through smoke-free nicotine alternatives to tell their story onwww.righttovape.org

For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visit https://apthrmedia.org

sCOPe’s return on #WVD22 and #WNTD22 follows its around-the-clock five-day livestream in November last year during COP9 – the 9th Conference of Parties for the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Nancy Loucas, of CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates), says sCOPe22 will add to the growing international pressure on WHO to embrace safer nicotine products, not demonize them.

“The global evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of vaping, yet hundreds of millions of smokers are blocked from accessing harm reduced alternatives. sCOPe22 will reveal what exactly is going on here,” says Ms Loucas.

In the Asia Pacific region alone, The Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand are set to join nearly 70 countries worldwide which have ignored WHO’s anti-vaping campaign and have instead regulated safer nicotine products. Each country has since reported dramatic declines in their overall smoking rates.

“We are the evidence! Not only is vaping an incredibly effective smoking cessation tool, but it’s deemed 95% less harmful than combustible tobacco. It’s utter madness for WHO to keep directing huge public health resource into bullying countries to ban these life-saving products. sCOPe22 will explore the motivation and money behind WHO’s actions,” says Ms Loucas.

On WVD22 on 30 May, sCOPe22 will broadcast via https://bit.ly/3GlEvn9

On WNTD22 on 31 May, sCOPe22 will broadcast via https://bit.ly/3wMKyg1

THR organizations set to feature include European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA), Campaign for Safer Alternatives in Africa (CASA), Vaping Saved My Life South Africa (VSML) Association of Vapers India (AVI), the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).

The Americas are also well represented with Latin American-based ARDT Iberoamerica, Rights For Vapers Canada (R4V), the Tobacco Harm Reduction Association of Canada (THRA), and United States-based Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA).

“sCOPe22 is a global collaboration and our simple message is THR works,” says Ms Loucas. “We’re encouraging people from around the world to watch, listen and learn, as well as join the conversation. We have some wonderful advocates and experts lined up.

“COP10 will take place in 2023 with harm reduced products set to be a key discussion for delegates. Our work now is critical to achieving success next year. In fact, this year’s World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day have never been more important,” says Nancy Loucas.

A global collaboration of THR consumer groups, sCOPe, has launched a comprehensive library of online panel discussions and presentations. To access sCOPe’s online library, visit https://bit.ly/3PG9lel

For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visit https://apthrmedia.org

Mr Saligupta’s comments follow the Public Health Minister publicly claiming his Ministry will not support legalization during a meeting with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).

“He is playing politics. After his abysmal handling of the pandemic, among other things, he could easily lose his seat in Thailand’s upcoming general election. He’s simply panicking but has completely under-estimated the wide support for legalizing and regulating vaping,” says Mr Saligupta.

With draft legislation before a sub-committee, the ECST Director remains confident that the vaping bill will be passed by Thailand’s parliament this year.

“The Thai Government can and will regulate safer nicotine products regardless of what one Minister says. Let’s not forget that Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, government officials, and public health experts have all been key to finally confronting Thailand’s failed tobacco control policies,” he says.

Mr Saligupta says Thailand’s harsh ban and penalties on vape imports and sales have failed.

“Smoking continues to kill about 50,000 Thai people each and every year. Too many smokers have been stuck with cigarettes or are forced onto the black market for vapes where there’s no control over the purchase age or product safety standards. An effective Public Health Minister would not accept this dire situation, let alone support it,” he says.

ECST believes it’s no surprise the Minister made his anti-vaping statement to ThaiHealth board members. Its senior adviser Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit was recently awarded the Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize by the World Health Organization (WHO) for his work against tobacco. He has also been a high-profile voice against legalizing vaping.

“ThaiHealth along with some local conservative health voices continue to publicly scaremonger, conveniently ignoring the growing Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) success globally. By joining the minority, Thailand’s Public Health Minister is now among an increasingly isolated crowd who continue to follow the WHO’s discredited anti-vape agenda,” he says.

Mr Saligupta says ignoring the WHO, nearly 70 countries have now adopted regulatory frameworks on safer nicotine products, leading to dramatic declines in their overall smoking rates. The Philippines and Malaysia are also set to legalize vaping.

“Thankfully the Thai Government remains on the right side of the debate. Regulating will give consumers better protection, encourage more smokers to quit deadly cigarettes, and ensure we have much better control over youth vaping with a strict purchase age,” he says.

ECST says THR experts and advocates from around the world have been alarmed at Mr Charnvirakul’s latest comments.

In recent months, applause and accolades have come from around the world as Thai politicians and officials have committed to following significant international public health evidence and best practice.

“As someone who has been living and breathing this legalization journey over several years, I can assure everyone there is nothing to see here. Thailand’s sky-high smoking rate is set to be finally addressed with legal vape sales and product regulation now imminent,” says Mr Saligupta.

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has expanded its prescription-only model with customs to clampdown at the border. This means no more personal importation of nicotine vaping liquids, via overseas websites, without a doctor’s prescription.

“It’s worse than medicalisation as very few doctors are registered with the TGA to prescribe. Australia’s 500,000 vapers are now expected to hunt down a willing doctor for a medical assessment and prescription. Many, undoubtedly, will return to the easier option of grabbing a packet of cigarettes. It’s sadly another dark day for Australia,” she says.

By further limiting access to safer nicotine products for its 2.3 million daily smokers, Australia has effectively joined a sad club of countries, including Thailand, India, and soon Hong Kong, which have banned vaping.

“Australia is now well down the world rankings when it comes to adopting effective Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) policies. It’s miles behand progressive countries like New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, the Philippines, and even the United States and Canada. These counties openly acknowledge vaping’s key role in beating tobacco,” she says.

Ms Loucas says it makes no sense to effectively ban products that are 95% less harmful than cigarettes, when Australian smokers can buy a pack of cigarettes from any service station, supermarket or corner store on a whim. She predicts the move will only expand the already huge black market for nicotine vape liquids.

“The Lucky Country is not following international science or THR best practice. Instead, Australia is kowtowing to the poisoned advice of the World Health Organization (WHO). By condemning safer alternatives and ignoring mounting evidence, the WHO is doing its best to deny the world’s 1.1 billion smokers a safe escape,” says Ms Loucas.

CAPHRA notes that smoking rates have significantly fallen in countries supportive of vaping. In contrast, Australian smoking rates have almost flatlined since 2013, despite aggressive tobacco control policies.

Ongoing increases to tobacco excise have made it the fourth largest individual tax collected by Australia’s federal government at an estimated $15 billion last financial year.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that blocking tobacco’s main rival will only help lift tobacco excise revenue for the Australian government,” she says.

CAPHRA says international evidence also discredits Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt’s claims that the ban will seek ‘to avoid an onramp for non-smokers, especially youth’. Yet the complete opposite happens: Vaping is no gateway to youth smoking, but a leading offramp for adult smokers.

Last year, Australia’s closest cousin, New Zealand, legalised and regulated vaping. Its overall smoking rate has fallen to a record low 12%. The country’s District Health Boards and Māori health vape-to-quit smoking programmes continue to achieve record results.

In contrast, Australia’s Senate Inquiry into Tobacco Harm Reduction last year heard from public health experts, tobacco treatment specialists and frontline health workers. They told the inquiry that a prescription-only model would never work and only drive vapers back to smoking. In the end, their evidence and experiences were completely ignored.

CAPHRA says startling research confirms Australia has sadly fallen into the hands of greed. It’s now clear American billionaires like Michael Bloomberg dictate not only the WHO’s health guidance, but Australia’s health policies.

In fact, over the past decade anti-tobacco billionaire foundations have funnelled millions into Asia Pacific NGOs to lobby governments to ban vaping and discredit vaping advocates.

To view the full findings and money trails, visit: https://www.24shareupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Clarisse-Virgino-Research-with-IRS-returns-98.pdf

Now live and boasting over 14,000 testimonials, CAPHRA is calling on those who’ve quit cigarettes through smoke-free nicotine alternatives to tell their story on www.righttovape.org

Consumer groups in the Asia Pacific region have also launched a petition at change.org/v4v-petition that urges the WHO to respect consumer rights and to stop demonizing Tobacco Harm Reduction options ahead of November’s meeting of the WHO FCTC.

For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visit https://apthrmedia.org