The UKVIA has joined calls for the government to cut the World Health Organization’s funding (WHO) if it continues to attack vaping.
A group of influential politicians wants the UK to consider ‘dramatically scaling back’ the WHO’s funding unless it acknowledges the science and changes its ‘antagonistic approach’ to e-cigarettes.
While the UK is set to give the WHO £340 Million over the next four years, critics are urging policymakers to reconsider.
Mark Pawsey MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vaping, questioned why the UK should give so much money to an organisation which fundamentally disagreed with our ‘progressive approach’ to harm reduction.
The UKVIA has joined ‘a chorus of voices’ condemning the WHO for its ‘aggressive anti-vaping stance’ ahead of a crucial health summit later this year.
According to leaked documents reported in the Daily Express, the WHO will tell a meeting of international health figures in November that e-cigarettes “are as dangerous as smoking tobacco.”
John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA, called the World Health Organization’s stance on vaping ‘extremely concerning.’
He said:
“Vaping is a great British success story, enabling millions of people to switch from smoking.
“The APPG is right to call for the UK Government to reconsider the level of its funding to the World Health Organization in light of these reports.
“Thankfully, now that the UK has left the EU, it is no longer bound by the ridiculous and quite frankly dangerous WHO messaging urging the bloc to treat vaping in the same way as smoking.”
John Dunne, UKVIA
The UKVIA stressed that ‘this action flies in the face of the scientific reality’, with evidence from Public Health England showing that vaping is 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes.
It also highlighted that 3.2 million UK smokers have already made the switch to vaping, and that the industry needs to be supported if it can help the remaining 6.9 million Brits kick the habit.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.