CAPHRA Urges WHO to Abandon Abstinence-Only Nicotine Policies

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has called on the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) to align its nicotine policies with verified science rather than abstinence-only ideology.

Prohibition Limits Cessation Options for Adult Smokers

According to a position paper published by CAPHRA, international health agencies continue to push pharmaceutical cessation therapies that have failed many dependent smokers, while simultaneously restricting reduced-risk alternatives like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

Clarisse Virgino, CAPHRA’s representative for the Philippines, pointed out the dilemma facing consumers: “Too many people who smoke have already tried and failed with approved cessation tools. When regulators respond to vaping and nicotine pouches with prohibition instead of proportionate rules, they are closing the only off-ramp many adults have left.”

Contrasting Regulatory Approaches in Asia Pacific

CAPHRA emphasized that peer-reviewed literature and independent health institutions show smoke-free products carry lower risk than combustible cigarettes. Total bans in countries such as Australia, India, and Thailand have backfired by driving consumers toward unregulated black markets. In contrast, Japan and New Zealand achieved notable declines in smoking by balancing youth access controls with legal adult availability.

Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, urged treaty officials to focus on practical health outcomes: “Public health policy should follow relative risk, not moral panic. Every time the world dismisses a lower-risk alternative as a corporate construct, it is the people already trapped in addiction, often from lower-income and marginalised communities, who pay the price.”

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Matthew Ma

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With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.