COP 10

[Toby iVapour]

From 20-25 November 2023, government delegations from around the world will meet in Panama City to discuss tobacco and nicotine policy at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Decisions taken at these meetings influence how international tobacco control policies are implemented at a national level. These decisions will be very significant in determining the future of safer nicotine products (SNP), such as nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes), snus, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products. Consumer access to these products is crucial to realise the public health potential of tobacco harm reduction in the global fight against tobacco-related death and disease.

To find out more about what the FCTC is, what COP meetings are, and how they operate -
https://gsthr.org/briefing-papers/t...-parties-cop-an-explainer-updated-april-2023/

There is a dedicated site - COPWATCH: a Consumer Guide to FCTC COP -
#COP10 documents guide:
https://copwatch.info/cop10-documents-guide-fctc-cop-10-9/

And various blogs about the WHO & FCTC from Clive Bates, like (from 2021) -
One hundred specialists call for WHO to change its hostile stance on tobacco harm reduction – new letter to FCTC delegates published
https://clivebates.com/one-hundred-...o-to-change-stance-on-tobacco-harm-reduction/

Anyway, the reason why I decided to post a thread (excluding the fact that there doesn't seem to be a COP10 thread on the forum) is that there is some good news from the Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil O'Brien, who stated in a reply to a parliamentary question -

The Government has regularly set out its position on vaping at the Conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and we will do so at the next conference in November 2023 along with the preparatory meeting in October. The delegation will not agree to any decisions which would impact on our ability to make vapes available for adult smokers who wish to quit.
[my emphasis in bold]

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2023-09-01.196493.h&s=Neil+O'Brien#g196493.r0

 

[vapervince]

If my livelihood depended somewhat on the outcome of this COP I might take an interest, but seeing as I believe that this junket will go the way of its` predecessors i.e. round and round in ever decreasing circles till it disappears up its` own arse, I`ll give it a damn good leaving alone.

 

[ZenAnarchi]

Thanks, @Toby iVapour , it’s good to know that at least one country will be defending our rights

 

[Netvaper]

The opening song ought to be 'Won't Get Fooled Again'.

 

[vapervince]

@Toby iVapour my post was in no way intended as derogatory of you or the work that you do to keep the forum informed, I think you do an excellent, thorough job and my hat is off to you

 

[Toby iVapour]

.. it’s good to know that at least one country will be defending our rights

Well, we'll wait & see of course...
.. but it's good that he says in principle they they will not agree with the WHO's plans to all or some of these -

• calls for tighter regulation or bans on open and customizable systems for vapes
• bans or restrictions on flavours that are said to appeal to minors
• a restriction on nicotine salts
• a redefinition of ‘smoke’ which might classify the aerosols from heated tobacco products as smoke

 

[vapervince]

That last point has always stuck in the craw of the naysayers, they love to refer to vapour as smoke.

 

[zouzounaki]

• bans or restrictions on flavours that are said to appeal to minors

but sunak has recently said he is clamping down on this.

 

[Toby iVapour]

but sunak has recently said he is clamping down on this.

That's why I put "all or some" of those bullet points...

And pretty sure Sunak said they would "be looking at it"...
.. so they could look at it and realise the obvious that flavour options are pretty much essential if you want to keep vaping appealing... (available for adult smokers who wish to quit)

 

[vapervince]

If they ban fruity flavours, cupcake world are gonna be pissed.