This statement was delivered by Ms. Fernanda de Carvalho, our Advocacy Committee member for PAHO, at the Seventy-Sixth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Americas
SEVENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE AMERICAS
AGENDA ITEM 4.7
Honourable Chair,
Distinguished Delegates,
The World Heart Federation applauds the World Health Organization and its Member States for their Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025-2030.
We note with concern that tobacco industry interference remains the single greatest obstacle to the implementation of life-saving tobacco control policies. The industry has a long-standing history of systematic interference in health and regulatory sciences, creating unnecessary and harmful controversy among the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers through industry-funded research to promote its products.
The spread of misleading claims and aggressive marketing strategies have largely contributed to the misconception that newer tobacco and nicotine products are harmless. However, contrary to industry narratives, independent studies have associated newer products, such as electronic nicotine delivery systems and heated tobacco products, with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, ENDS and HTPs have also demonstrated limited effectiveness as cessation tools in real-world settings.
We urge Member States to fully implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to protect their populations from the health, social, economic, and environmental harms of both traditional and newer tobacco and nicotine products, especially:
- Article 5.3 – Address tobacco industry interference to safeguard public health from its vested interests;
- Article 6 – Increase taxes to reduce affordability;
- Article 8 – Create emission-free environments to protect non-users;
- Article 11 – Enforce adequate packaging and labelling to raise awareness;
- Article 13 – Prohibit tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and
- Article 14 – Provide tobacco cessation services, particularly in primary health care.
Further, we call on all stakeholders to implement the recommendations outlined in our WHF policy briefs on nicotine and e-cigarettes to protect younger generations.
