Date:2020-7-23 14:45:45 Clicks:752 【Font Size:
Big Normal Small】
The Ministry of Health of Italy released the summary of an undisclosed report which had rejected the application for the risk reduction claim for Philip Morris’s heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco product, IQOS.
The National Health Institute of Italy’s Health Ministry reviewed the evidence submitted by the tobacco company and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove the reduction of toxic substances from the HNB tobacco product than from conventional cigarettes under the same condition of use. Unfortunately, the Italian government had passed the tax reduction for HNB tobacco products just few days before the report was finalized. In view of the findings of the report, the former Minister of Education has requested more information from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance on the report and the tax breaks granted to IQOS.
Similarly, given the lack of evidence on risk reduction, the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia announced an interim decision on 10 June 2020 to ban the sale of HNB tobacco products. The final decision is expected in August 2020.
All forms of smoking products are harmful. COSH strongly urges the Hong Kong Government and Legislative Council to resume the legislation for a total ban on alternative smoking products, including e-cigarettes and HNB tobacco products, as soon as possible. The Government should also formulate a timeline for a total ban on smoking to achieve smoke-free Hong Kong. COSH is organizing the “Support to enact a total ban on e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products” signatory campaign to urge the Government to enact the total ban. Please support by signing at the website (https://www.smokefree.hk/support/).
Source:Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of the Australia