WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3 E-Update

- 29 March 2024

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KEY POINTS:

Rapid growth and appeal of e-cigarettes, especially among youth: The rapid increase in e-cigarette popularity, especially among young people, is driven by a wide range of products and aggressive marketing tactics, highlighting the need for awareness and regulatory action.
Diverse products and aggressive marketing drive popularity: The absence of conclusive evidence regarding the public health benefits of e-cigarettes can raise concerns about their safety and effectiveness as smoking cessation tools.
Lack of proven public health benefits from e-cigarettes: E-cigarettes are often promoted as a less harmful alternative to conventional cigarettes; however, to date, the commercialization (sale, importation, distribution, or manufacture) of e-cigarettes as consumer products has not been proven to have had a net benefit for public health. Instead, alarming evidence on their adverse population health effects is mounting.
Calls for urgent measures to prevent e-cigarette uptake and nicotine addiction: Urgent measures are recommended to curb the uptake of e-cigarettes and combat nicotine addiction, including regulatory actions to limit access and appeal to younger demographics.
Recommendations for strong regulations or bans on flavors, promotional features, and sales to minors: The call for solid regulations or bans focuses on flavors and promotional aspects that attract youth, as well as restrictions on sales to minors, aiming to protect young people from starting to use these products.
Advocates for comprehensive tobacco control measures: The advocates for the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control measures include e-cigarettes to address the broader issue of tobacco and nicotine use.
Emphasizes the need for monitoring, enforcement, and public education on e-cigarette harms: Ongoing monitoring and enforcement are essential to ensure compliance with regulations and public education campaigns to inform about the risks associated with e-cigarette use.
Advises against promoting e-cigarettes as cessation aids without evidence of efficacy and regulation: The caution regarding the promotion of e-cigarettes as cessation aids emphasizes the need for scientific evidence to support their efficacy and appropriate regulatory frameworks to manage their use responsibly.

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Observatories

Apart from the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3, three observatories have been set up to monitor the tobacco industry in their respective countries and regions. These observatories offer policymakers, governments, civil society, and the public, crucial information to prevent tobacco industry interference in their tobacco control efforts. You can find links to their activities below: