WHO Warns of Tobacco Industry's Youth-Targeted Marketing through New Nicotine Products

At an international anti-tobacco conference in Geneva attended by representatives from 183 countries, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the tobacco industry is aggressively targeting youth with new tobacco and nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. These products are marketed as less harmful alternatives using bright colors and sweet flavors, but Tedros emphasized that the industry's primary goal remains profit, stating, "Schools are the new frontline in the fight against tobacco and nicotine, where companies actively recruit a new generation of addicts."

The conference discussed the risks posed by aggressive marketing and misinformation, with Andrew Black from the international tobacco control secretariat warning that these developments threaten to reverse public health progress. An expert paper proposed banning the import and production of filter cigarettes, as filters do not significantly reduce smoking risks and may lead to deeper toxin inhalation. Although these proposals are not binding, they underscore the increasing concerns about tobacco product safety.

The WHO also cautioned countries against allowing tobacco industry lobbyists in their delegations, noting the industry's significant influence. Germany faced criticism for low tobacco taxes, which fall short of the WHO recommendation that taxes comprise at least 75% of cigarette prices, and for failing to adopt plain packaging regulations. Dr. Ulrike Helbig from the German Cancer Society endorsed the filter ban, highlighting that tobacco causes around 127,000 deaths annually in Germany and is linked to one in five new cancer cases.

The conference marks a pivotal moment in efforts to strengthen global tobacco control and protect youth from new forms of nicotine addiction.