“The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World agrees with the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that more needs to be done to combat the harm caused by combustible tobacco. WHO’s 2018 Report on global progress of the implementation of the FCTC indicates both a lack of human and financial resources, as well as limited access to policy makers and partners in international venues, particularly in developing countries. Our Foundation has the financial resources and the international relationships to combat the burden of smoking and looks forward to collaborating with the WHO to advance progress in this regard. This effort must include tobacco harm reduction alternatives, as coded into the definition of “tobacco control” in Article 1.d of the FCTC. There is overwhelming evidence that vaping, and other smokeless products, may be used as effective smoking cessation tools by smokers. We appeal to the WHO to reconsider its position on the ban of electronic nicotine delivery systems and other harm reduction products to help increase the rate of smokers who quit or switch from using combustibles.”

—Derek Yach, President of Foundation for a Smoke-Free World