The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction
Advocates (CAPHRA) celebrates the success of GFN25, the 12th
Global Forum on Nicotine, which concluded in Warsaw on 21
June 2025, delivering compelling evidence that tobacco harm
reduction continues gaining momentum despite opposition from
the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The three-day
conference, themed “Challenging Perceptions – Effective
Communication for Tobacco Harm Reduction,” brought together
leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and consumer
advocates who presented groundbreaking research
demonstrating safer nicotine products’
effectiveness.
Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of
CAPHRA, said: “GFN25 has highlighted the scientific evidence
supporting tobacco harm reduction is overwhelming, yet the
WHO continues its campaign against products that could save
millions of lives. Denying smokers access to safer
alternatives is a moral failure.”
Dr Mark Tyndall’s
keynote address, “What’s so scary about tobacco harm
reduction?” challenged stigma plaguing tobacco harm
reduction policy, drawing parallels between drug harm
reduction successes and potential tobacco control
outcomes.
The conference featured the prestigious
Michael Russell Oration and Award ceremony, recognising
outstanding contributions to tobacco harm reduction science.
The award honoured Fiona Patten, from Australia, whose
tireless advocacy for harm reduction was well
deserved.”
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CAPHRA highlighted how
discussions reinforced the importance of consumer voices in
tobacco harm reduction. There were multiple consumer
sessions for Latin America, central Asia and Eastern Europe
highlighting the challenges and opportunities for THR in
LMICs.
Asa Saligupta, from ECST Thialand,
participated in a session on 20 years of FCTC with esteemed
experts such as Derek Yach and Tikki Pangestu, both of whom
helped craft the original treaty, and are well placed to
evaluate its importance and intentions towards
THR.
This was especially timely mounting evidence, the
WHO’s Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report focuses
exclusively on traditional tobacco control whilst ignoring
harm reduction approaches. The WHO’s MPOWER framework
excludes safer nicotine products, maintaining an
abstinence-only approach proven inadequate for millions of
smokers.
“The WHO’s refusal to acknowledge evidence is
condemning millions to preventable deaths,” said Loucas.
“New Zealand has shown what’s possible when governments
trust science. The WHO’s ideological opposition betrays its
mission to improve global health.”
CAPHRA calls on
governments to follow scientific evidence from GFN25 and
adopt policies prioritising harm reduction alongside
traditional tobacco control. Effective tobacco control
requires comprehensive approaches including access to safer
alternatives for those unable to quit nicotine.
“The
evidence is clear, the science settled, and the moral
imperative undeniable,” concluded Loucas. “It’s time for the
WHO and governments to stop playing politics with people’s
lives and trust science showing safer nicotine products can
end the smoking
epidemic.”
