Why is the World Health Organization Hostile to E-cigarettes?

The bad news about vaping doesn’t seem to stop. After a lot of news from the USA, we at CAK Vape have international news for you today. The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning a campaign against e-cigarettes, as recently leaked documents show. This post tells you everything you need to know about it.

Who or what is the WHO?

The WHO is a specialized United Nations agency (UNO) responsible for coordinating international public health. The WHO was founded in 1948 and currently has 194 member states. Their goal is to achieve the best possible level of health for everyone in the world. You can achieve this, for example, by fighting diseases or by promoting general health.

How Is WHO Funding?

Of all the organs of the UN, the WHO has the largest budget. The financing comprises three parts: First, each country participating in the WHO pays an annual membership fee. This contribution depends on the individual solvency of the respective country. Secondly, there are services in the form of health advice from the WHO, which only make up a tiny part of their income. The most important parts of their financing is donations from the private sector. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is one of the most generous donors to the WHO, but the majority, with a share of around 80%, comes from pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.

Is The WHO Independent?

Above all, the proximity of the WHO to pharmaceutical companies raises the question of how independent the WHO is. After all, the pharmaceutical industry is the largest donor to the WHO from the private sector. Although corruption at the WHO in connection with a pharmaceutical company has not yet been proven, it has already happened that former high-ranking WHO employees have moved directly to top positions in the pharmaceutical industry. The fact that mainly corporations that produce nicotine replacement products such as nicotine patches or chewing gum are involved makes the whole thing appear even more suspicious.

How the WHO is fighting tobacco

As the leading health organization, which has also spoken out against tobacco and taken action to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and to reduce tobacco consumption, therefore, in 2003, the WHO decided on the Tobacco Framework Convention, an international treaty that lists numerous guidelines and measures for handling tobacco products and for producers, sellers, and buyers. The following points, among others, have to be implemented:

• Lobbying by the tobacco industry should be restricted
• Non-smokers should be better protected against passive smoking
• Comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising
• Dispensing ban within the meaning of the protection of minors
• Mandatory labeling on packaging and ban on misleading designations such as “mild” or “light.”
• Regulation of the substances contained in cigarettes

Although Germany and 178 other countries have committed themselves to the Tobacco Framework Convention, implementation is sometimes slow, as in the USA. The WHO does not actively pursue these crimes, nor does it sanction the affected countries.

How the WHO is now targeting the e-cigarette

Now let’s get back to the main topic of this post. As mentioned at the beginning, leaked documents reveal the WHO’s plan for the e-cigarette to eliminate if possible. The documents are believed to have come from a WHO regional office in the eastern Mediterranean area, but the original files have since been deleted. However, the documents can now be found online from various sources. We have summarized the most essential requirements of the WHO for you.

In principle, the production, import, export, and sale of e-cigarettes should be banned in general. If this is not possible for any reason, the following measures should be taken:

• E-cigarettes should be treated legally in the same way as tobacco products
• Countries that are members of the WHO should tax e-cigarettes. The tax should be more than 75% of the sales price, but at least 70%. Taxes should be so high that young people cannot afford e-cigarettes
• E-liquids without nicotine should be licensed and heavily regulated
• Liquids with an aroma that is sweet, fruity, or otherwise appealing to children and young people should be banned
• Any means of changing the smell or taste of a liquid should be banned
• As with cigarettes, warnings should take up at least 50% of the packaging
• The power of battery carriers for e-cigarettes should be limited to a maximum of 25 watts
• Any advertising or at least advertising promises that e-cigarettes can successfully help people to quit smoking should be banned
• Online trading and any shipping of e-cigarettes should be banned

Important note: This excerpt of recommendations is not a question of measures that have already been decided and are to be implemented but merely a preparatory catalog of measures. The points listed serve as a basis for discussing an extension of the Tobacco Framework Convention.

What is changing now for vapers?

Luckily nothing for now. The points listed in the leaked document are intended for a WHO meeting next year, at which they will then be discussed and, if necessary, rejected or implemented. However, if the WHO members should implement the requirements into national law, every vaper can expect an unpleasant future. Perhaps the World Health Organization, dependent on the pharmaceutical industry, would like to drive us back into the disease-causing tobacco addiction. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. As soon as we learn something new about this, we will tell you about it!

Recommended  Read

• What Experts Say About E-cigarettes
• Long-Term Study: How Dangerous Are Vaping?
• The Liquid Tax In Germany
• New Research from the United Kingdom
• Vaping: Common Questions for Beginners