The group COPWATCH have uncovered some scary misinformation from WHO prior to COP10!
We have explained about COP10 FCTC in previous articles but as a summary, this is a meeting held by WHO (World Health Organisation) to construct tobacco policies for all the member states.
The UK and Ireland are amongst member states.
Why Is This A Threat?
There have been many threats to vaping and safer nicotine products in general, which sadly seem to be very unpopular with WHO.
Each country sends delegates to vote on their position on the proposed measures. If there are no objections the proposals will become law in the member states.
However if a few member states do not agree then there is not a unanimous decision and the policies will not be put into force.
It appears that the WHO have been a bit sneaky.
All the agenda paperwork has been published online for anyone to view.
But two new reports on Disposable Vapes and Nicotine Pouches have been published separately from the standard agenda documents. You can view them here.
Both reports have been written anonymously and contain a lot of misinformation about the products.
This is a huge concern as these publications are designed to educate the delegates on different nicotine methods – and this could give a negative impression which is not backed up by the science.
You can read the article on the COPWATCH Website here “The WHO Publishes Anonymously-Written Papers Designed To Gaslight Parties At COP10”
Disposable (Single Use) Vapes Report
In this report disposables are classed as “D-ENDS” (Disposable Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems).
Utter rubbish such as toxicity of coils and flavourings are spouted. Plus complaints about nicotine strengths.
The lie that the increase in vapes is not showing a significant decrease in cigarette use is mind-blowing as all the statistics show that countries such as the UK and Sweden have a huge drop in smoking rates whilst vaping and other safer nicotine use has risen.
Plus the absolute stinker that I quote below from the COPWATCH website…
“The document complains that “we also observe a strong industry lobbying activity to regulate newer products (heated tobacco products, or HTPs, snus and nicotine pouches, and ENDS in all its forms) as little as possible”, which those who recognise the significant benefits of harm reduction would find sensible.
Parties are told to ignore this though because – and this may make your jaw drop – the WHO accuses industry of “insisting on rhetoric pretending that they are a “safer” alternative to tobacco products.””
Responses
NEW on COPWATCH:
The #WHO publishes anonymously-written papers designed to gaslight Parties at #COP10 https://t.co/TGirCnBwJf pic.twitter.com/iGpyi8kwET— FCTCcopwatch (@FCTCcopwatch) October 16, 2023
The WHO publishes anonymously-written papers designed to gaslight Parties at COP10https://t.co/SgkaO6Dyqv
— Allison (@alli_vapes) October 17, 2023
It is unscientific and shameful but nothing we have not seen before. But two new reports, on disposable vapes and nicotine pouches, have been published on a separate page to the main COP10 menu which seem specifically designed to mislead COP10 delegates https://t.co/aJcyt7bEYJ
— Kurt Yeo (@Kurt_Yeo) October 17, 2023
“In advance of #COP10 , the #FCTC Secretariat has published fanciful and ridiculous reports on nicotine pouches and disposables.
COPWATCH wonders who wrote them…” https://t.co/SbluxhFOZh— FCTCcopwatch (@FCTCcopwatch) October 17, 2023
