The WHO Tobacco Laboratory Network (TobLabNet) working group meeting on smokeless tobacco (SLT), held from 10-11 August 2017, was a closed meeting of select members of TobLabNet working on SLT testing. The meeting discussed responses to requests made by the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) on SLT. Participants examined the development of methods to measure nicotine and tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in SLT; assessed the applicability of the methods for the determination of humectants and ammonia in cigarette tobacco to SLT; and discussed technical approaches to reducing toxicants in SLT.
The special session, which was held on 14 August 2017, focused on COP7’s request to assist laboratories to collect scientific information on chemicals in contents and emissions of smokeless tobacco that contribute to toxicity, addictiveness and attractiveness of the products, the analytical methods to measure them, and the levels found in smokeless tobacco products on the market. Smokeless tobacco experts that are not members of TobLabNet but independent of the tobacco industry ware also invited to participate in this session.