Opening Day Highlights: Experts Challenge WHO’s Approach to Harm Reduction

Overview of the Day

The first day of Good COP 2.0 set the tone for a week of spirited and detailed discussion about evidence-based harm reduction and reform within the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Attendees heard from leading voices including David Williams, Kurt Yeo, Prof. Tikki Pangestu, and Roger Bate, who discussed and debated the future of the FCTC and its implications for global public health.

What the Experts Are Saying:

Morning Sessions:

Regulator Watch & Opening Remarks — (David Williams, Martin Cullip, Kurt Yeo, Jeannie Cameron, and Carissa Düring)

“The WHO position is always seen as a guiding principle for low-income countries. There has been a reluctance to introduce risk proportionate policies when it comes to harm reduction products.”

Conversation with Prof. Tikki Pangestu

“The template the FCTC has established has spread to other areas—we see this with COVID & the pandemic treaty. Dissenting scientists were treated as illegitimate, ‘follow the science’ was treated as a slogan rather than a method.”

Research Launch: “The FCTC: The Wrong Lessons Learned” with Roger Bate

Evidence from randomized trials and meta-analyses indicates that e-cigarettes roughly double quit success relative to NRTs or unaided attempts, with higher user satisfaction and persistence. Read Roger’s full paper here.

Afternoon Panels:

Debate: “The U.S. and the WHO” (Martin Cullip, Clive Bates, Roger Bate)

“The WHO needs to contract and increasingly focus on things that are necessary…It can’t do anything without credibility. In the area of tobacco and the FCTC, they are incinerating their credibility.” -Clive Bates

Article 2.1 Discussion – Freedom Clause or Mandate? (Martin Cullip, Clive Bates, Kurt Yeo, Juan Jose Cirion)

 “In Mexico we are facing prohibition at the constitutional level…Our government is doing this kind of implementation just to be [on good terms] with the WHO.” -Juan Jose Cirion

EU TPD/TED Review and WHO Influence in Europe (Alberto Hernandez, Adam Hoffer, Benjamin Elks, Carissa During)

“I want to emphasize that Sweden has a smoke-free generation—my generation. Only 2.3% of people aged 16–29 smoke daily. Compare that to the rest of the EU, where it’s about 20%—that’s 1 in every 5 people.” -Carissa Düring

Delegates At Cop 11 Promote Harm Reduction

TPA was pleased to see multiple delegations at the FCTC COP recognize harm reduction in their national statements.

New Zealand: “Since 2019, smoking rates have declined more rapidly in association with implementation of tobacco harm reduction measures, particularly regulated access to vaping products.”

Serbia: “The Republic of Serbia calls for caution when considering extreme measures that could lead to drastic disruptions to economic activities in member states. Any new proposed measures should be based on credible scientific studies and research that would demonstrate the positive effect of its implementation on harm reduction and empowerment of public health.”

Key Takeaways

• The debate over the WHO’s direction continues to divide experts.
• Calls for evidence-based reform were echoed across multiple sessions.
• Attendees emphasized collaboration and transparency for future COP meetings.

Looking Ahead: Tuesday Preview

Tomorrow’s sessions will spotlight public trust in health institutions and consumers’ message to the FCTC.

Media

Stream the conference LIVE here. All media queries should be sent to Kara@protectingtaxpayers.org.

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is organizing a rapid response and fact checking conference in Geneva, Switzerland as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meets for their biennial Conference of the Parties (Bad COP) to discuss tobacco-related issues. TPA’s event “Conference of the People (Good COP)” brings in experts and consumers, often ignored by WHO, to be heard during the discussion of tobacco and tobacco harm reduction. The Conference of the People (Good COP) is a launch vehicle for a broader coalition of taxpayer, free market, and harm reduction organizations to counter the message from the FCTC Secretariat and specifically address issues brought forth at COP. Currently, there is no cohesive, organized message to balance the misinformation stemming from the WHO and institutions under the auspices of the FCTC.