Opening Day of Good COP Live in Panama
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
February 5, 2024
Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) opened our Good COP / Bad COP conference with a discussion hosted by TPA President David Williams and joined by TPA’s Lindsey Stroud and Martin Cullip. TPA’s event welcomed attendees, press, and was live streamed globally in clear contrast to World Health Organization (WHO)’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Conference of Parties (COP)’s closed door event. The WHO failed to deliver a promised live stream of the opening plenary — leaving the outside world in the dark on their plans for this week.
The show at Good COP continued in the afternoon with our first expert introductory panel. This panel highlighted Carmen Escrig from Spain, Dr. Randall Rodriguez from Costa Rica, Dr. Rohan Andrede De Sequeira from India, and Dr. Diego Joaquin Verrastro from Argentina.
Next up, another set of experts was introducted featuring Alberto Gomez from Spain, Maria Papaioannoy from Canada, Roberto Sussman from Mexico, and Filip Tokic from Croatia.
In a break from structured programming, TPA facilitated roundtables for press to meet our experts. A goal this week is to encourage dialogue around tobacco harm reduction. Our experts share frustration with press that they’re being kept outside of the official proceedings of COP10.
TPA President David Williams then moderated a panel with Patrick Hedger (USA), Lindsey Stroud (USA), and Maria Papaioannoy (Canada) to address issues specific to North America.
The day concluded with an additional expert panel to introduce Grant Carlson and Jeff Smith from the United States, Liza Katasiashvili from Georgia, and Tomas O’Gorman from Mexico.
You can learn more about these and all of our experts at https://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/cop10-experts and watch a summary of the day’s events on Regulator Watch each day at 4pm EST.
TPA is proud to have announced a diverse and experienced group of Good COP experts today and looks forward to another busy day of programming to highlight the policy experts, consumers, and medical professionals who have been ignored by the WHO’s COP10 tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s Agenda
Subscribe to TPA’s Youtube Channel to watch livestreams of our panels.
9:30 AM: OPENING SESSION
WHO: DAVID WILLIAMS (USA), MARTIN CULLIP (UK), LINDSEY STROUD (USA)
WHAT: RECAP OF DAY 1 AND PREVIEWING TODAY
10:00 AM EXPERT INTRODUCTIONS #5
WHO: JONAS TURRICO (ARGENTINA), WILL GODFREY (USA), CONNOR MOLLOY (USA), CHRIS SNOWDON (UK)
11:00 AM EXPERT INTRODUCTIONS #6
WHO: KONSTANTINOS FARSALINOS (GREECE), ADAM HOFFER (USA), MARK OATES (UK), TBD
12:00 PM *BREAK FOR LUNCH*
1:00 PM CONSUMER SESSION DAY 1
The State of Consumer Access
WHO: LIZA KATASIASHVILI (GEORGIA), CONNOR MOLLOY (NEW
ZEALAND), MARK OATES (UK), ROBERTO SUSSMAN (MEXICO)
2:00 PM POLICY SESSION DAY 1
What Are the Policies Around the World Concerning the Regulation of Both Combustible Cigarettes and Tobacco Harm Reduction Products?
WHO: ADAM HOFFER (USA), CONNOR MOLLOY (NEW ZEALAND), JEFF SMITH (USA), CHRIS SNOWDON (UK)
This panel will examine regulations on both combustible tobacco products and tobacco harm reduction products. Globally, there are many differing regulatory approaches by various governments which impact adult access. This panel will explore the various regulations, including how products are brought to market, any restrictions imposed on products, and the complex tax policies from around the world on both tobacco and tobacco harm reduction products.
3:00 PM SCIENCE SESSION DAY 1
The Problems and Science of Smoking: What is this Science of Tobacco Harm Reduction?
This panel will examine the not-so-long history of smoking’s ills and related harms and examine how the science became widely understood, as well as influenced public health campaigns to reduce the burden related to combustible tobacco. The panel will also investigate emerging science in tobacco harm reduction products and how countries around the world are responding to this?
4:00 PM Regulator Watch
* subject to change