Recently, WHO issued a call to action urging governments to take immediate measures to control e-cigarettes, safeguard young people, protect non-smokers, and minimize health risks to populations. E-cigarettes as consumer products are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, mounting evidence reveals alarming adverse health effects.
“Kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "I urge countries to implement strict measures to prevent uptake to protect their citizens, especially their children and young people.”
Being permitted on the open market and aggressively marketed to young people with at least 16 000 flavours available, WHO warns that the use of e-cigarettes among children and adolescents surpasses adult usage in many countries. Currently, 88 countries have no minimum age at which e-cigarettes can be bought and 74 countries have no regulations in place for these harmful products.
Notably, Lao PDR has already taken strong action by updating the National Tobacco Control Law to include a comprehensive ban on import, export, distribution and sale of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and shisha. Lao PDR is one of 34 countries to ban the sale of e-cigarettes.
“Lao PDR has shown strong leadership and rapid action when it comes to e-cigarettes and legislation around them, reflecting their commitment to protecting health,” said Dr Ying-Ru Lo, WHO Representative to Lao PDR. “Next, we need to ensure those laws are fully enforced.”
“Unfortunately, e-cigarettes and similar products remain available online and in markets – we want to ensure people are fully aware of the harms they cause, and of the recent ban. With all members of the community working together – retailers, market associations, police and customs – we can ensure everyone, everywhere is protected from the calculated and harmful efforts of the tobacco industry. We cannot allow health-threatening products to be marketed to children, allow distributors to import or sell them, or let suppliers mislead the public with false health claims.”
WHO recommends that countries with e-cigarette bans strengthen enforcement and monitoring of compliance with regulations, track usage of these products, and adopt additional measures such as bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship, including digital marketing.
Despite the significant progress made in tobacco control in Lao PDR, thousands of lives are still lost each year to traditional tobacco use.
WHO’s Dr Lo continued: “The efforts Lao PDR is making are impressive. However, the country continues to lose more than 6700 lives a year from tobacco use – over 17 people die every day from diseases caused by tobacco use including cancer and heart disease.”
“This cost in lives, and cost to society, could be reduced by addressing the affordability of these deadly products. Lao PDR has the lowest tobacco tax rates and second cheapest tobacco prices in ASEAN, and taking the necessary steps to increase taxes and prices – including removing any tax exemptions or benefits for tobacco companies- is crucial.”
Stronger implementation and enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Law, including enforcement of its total ban of e-cigarettes, and making tobacco less affordable are key to protect current and future generations of Lao PDR from the dangers of tobacco products and e-cigarettes.