WHO position on Tobacco Control and Harm Reduction

Overview

The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning that tobacco and nicotine companies are misappropriating the public health concept of harm reduction while mass marketing harmful products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches to the public at large. Genuine harm reduction programmes see health actors and agencies pursuing health objectives by implementing evidence-based strategies and interventions that are tightly controlled and monitored.  

Tobacco and nicotine product companies, and associated front groups, are increasingly promoting a range of tobacco, nicotine and related products. They claim these products pose lower health risks than conventional cigarettes and can be part of a ‘harm reduction’ approach to tobacco control. These products frequently include electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and smokeless tobacco products.

This publication sets out the WHO Position on tobacco control and harm reduction and provides guidance on the minimum set of regulations to be applied to products, such as nicotine pouches, electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect public health.