The GSTHR (Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction) organisation have created a briefing paper to help explain the complexities of the WHO COP10 FCTC !
Yes that is a lot of letters which make most people scratch their head! Hence why a briefing paper was produced.
Also we covered the WHO (World Health Organisation) COP10 (Conference Of the Parties 10) FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) in a previous article.
In that article the NNA (New Nicotine Alliance) were calling for people to get involved to help fight the threats being made towards vaping.
Briefing Paper Contents
This is a great outline to what happens at COP10 which is scheduled for the 20-25th November 2023 in Panama.
Not only is the whole thing confusing but it is also shrouded in mystery.
A few “Observers” will be allowed to attend but in previous years these were not allowed to be present for the full proceedings.
There are lots of risks to vaping and these could become mandatory in all parties.
However it only takes a few countries to object to proposals to prevent these decisions becoming ratified.
It is all a complicated business so the Briefing paper helps to explain all the processes and attendees.
The UK and Ireland will be affected if the proposals which place vaping at risk are agreed upon.
How Can You Get Involved
- Write to your MP and express your objections to these threats. You can find out who your MP is and their contact details on the UK parliament website. Also you can use the website Writetothem to compose your message.
“Tell them why the products are so important and why WHO threats must be resisted. Ask them to pass on your concerns to the government and insist the UK stands up for vaping and other non-combustible nicotine alternatives to smoking. The UK delegates may or may not have been selected already but ask your MP to enquire who is on the delegation so you can write to them.”
- Write to the FCTC focal point person in your country. This will be the person who passes information between the FCTC Bureau and the Government. The focal point contact for the UK is healthybehaviours@dhsc.gov.uk . For those outside of the UK this link will tell you who is your focal point.
“Tell the focal point that you wish to know what current plans are being communicated from the FCTC Bureau to the UK government and vice versa. Ask them for updates, meeting minutes and other information about the COP10 process.”
- Tell your story in a polite but persistent way. Share your story of how vaping helped you quit smoking, emphasise the type of equipment and flavours which made your quit journey a success.
- I suggest you mention that it scares you how this important tool in your non smoking journey could be at risk.
- Also emphasise how vaping will play a huge part in meeting “Smoke Free” goals.
- Share any replies you get with the NNA.
🚨Today @GlobalStateTHR publishes our latest Briefing Paper: The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Conference of the Parties (COP): an explainer (updated April 2023).
It is our guide to what might be happening at COP10 in November.https://t.co/oFg7qJnIIU pic.twitter.com/riDORIZcwC
— The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (@GlobalStateTHR) May 11, 2023
