[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for stricter regulations on electronic cigarettes, citing concerns that youth are at risk to their health and becoming addicted to smoking.
According to AFP and other news agencies, WHO stated in its 2021 Global Tobacco Report published on the 27th (local time) that "to maximize the protection of public health, electronic cigarettes and similar devices must be strictly regulated."
WHO expressed particular concern about the use of electronic cigarettes by individuals under 20 years old, due to the harmful effects of nicotine on brain development. It also strongly criticized e-cigarette manufacturers for targeting children and adolescents by using thousands of different flavors and reassuring messages, calling it "a criminal act and a violation of human rights."
Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City and WHO Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases, also stated, "Tobacco companies have aggressively promoted new products like electronic cigarettes as cigarette sales declined," adding, "Their goal is simple: to addict another generation to nicotine."
According to the report, there are over one billion smokers worldwide. The number of deaths caused by smoking, including those from secondhand smoke, reaches 8 million annually.
However, only 32 countries, including Brazil and Argentina, have banned the sale of electronic cigarettes. Another 79 countries have implemented measures such as banning use in public places and requiring health warnings on packaging. Apart from these, 84 countries still have no regulations on electronic cigarettes.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "Governments that have not banned electronic cigarettes and similar devices should adopt appropriate policies to protect public health and prevent use among vulnerable groups such as youth."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
