2024 - Session1 Seminars

Use patterns of e-cigarettes and cigarettes have changed dramatically in the US during the past 10 years. During this time, newer e-cigarette products have emerged, public perceptions have shifted, and both policies and regulations have evolved.   In this opening keynote session, Dr. Meza will review recent US trends of cigarette and e-cigarette prevalence and transitions between products highlighting differences by age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Finally, Dr Meza will discuss the implications of recent changes in the rates of initiation, cessation and switching between products on projections of future prevalence.

Mitch Zeller, J.D., was the director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products from March 2013 through April 2022. The mission of CTP—established by enactment of the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act—is “to make tobacco-related death and disease part of America’s past, not America’s future, and, by doing so, ensure a healthier life for every American family.”  As Center Director, Zeller led FDA’s efforts to use the tools of product regulation to reduce disease and death from tobacco use and bring previously unavailable information about its dangers to light. In this session, Mitch will outline a brief descriptive overview of the competing positions in the harm reduction debate.  He will offer some observations on the reality of how the debate is playing out in the U.S. given the statutory and regulatory regime created by the U.S. Congress.  Mitch will then contrast the state of play in the U.S. with the UK approach and offer a suggested approach to reframe the debate.

In February 2024 the UK government tabled legislation to create a smoke-free generation and tackle youth vaping. With the support of the Prime Minister and the Official Opposition, the legislation is expected to pass into law before the next general election. It is not expected to change significantly during the passage of the Bill. The government’s policy aim on vaping is to balance curbing the rise in youth use, with continuing to support adult smokers to quit.   This presentation will set out the measures being proposed to achieve this policy aim.

New Zealand and Australia both have a goal to reduce adult smoking to under 5%. New Zealand by 2025, Australia by 2030. Other than vaping laws, the two countries also have almost identical tobacco control policies. New Zealand has some of the most liberal vaping laws in the world with products widely available. Australia, by contrast, has among the most stringent vape laws, banning nicotine vapes without a medical prescription whilst cigarettes remain widely available. Daily smoking prevalence is falling at record rates in New Zealand, almost halving in the last 5 years to 6.8%, mirrored by a rise in vaping. Smoking rates in Australia have stagnated at around 12%, but youth and adult vaping are still increasing.

This talk will examine the impact and policy learnings of New Zealand and Australia’s contrasting approaches to harm reduction. This will include the role and relevance of New Zealand’s planned ‘endgame’ laws of mandatory de-nicotinization of all tobacco cigarettes, 90% reduction in tobacco sales, and a smokefree generation law. These yet to be implemented laws are to be repealed in 2024 following a change in government.  Why did these world first policies fail to survive a change in politics? Should we give up hope, or can we still achieve our goals?

We are pleased to welcome Dr Brian King, Director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the FDA. This will be an extended session with Q&A

In December 2023, the CTP released a new comprehensive 5-year strategic plan. The plan defines five goals, 10 outcomes, and several corresponding objectives, to advance the CTP mission to protect public health from tobacco-related death and disease.  The report's goals state commitments to issuing impactful regulations, using robust science to inform application reviews, pursuing timely and impactful compliance and enforcement strategies, and educating the public about the risks of tobacco products. Through the development of the strategic plan, CTP aims to reduce the negative health effects caused by tobacco use by ensuring a well-regulated marketplace, preventing people from starting to use tobacco products, encouraging people who use tobacco products to quit, and reducing the harm caused by tobacco product use.  In implementing this plan, CTP will utilize data and analytics to regularly track and monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to key activities to reflect challenges and maximize opportunities.

• Has generic language on “tobacco” products undermined understanding and public communication on the "nicotine harm continuum"?
• How can high-risk adolescents be considered in the drive to reduce youth?
• Has a more liberal approach to vaping in other countries reduced smoking?
• Will there be enough PMTA-approved products to meet adult demand?
• Are the voices of people who smoke being heard and considered in health equity discussions?