Global Action welcomes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent reauthorization of certain heated tobacco products. In April, the agency cleared two IQOS devices and three versions of HeatSticks to be used in these devices.
These reauthorizations continue to provide adults who smoke with potential solutions on their journey to quit. This decision complements Global Action’s charitable mission, which is to end combustible tobacco use –still the leading preventable cause of death globally.
IQOS systems heat tobacco without burning it, which significantly reduces the release of harmful compounds compared to traditional combustible cigarettes. With this reauthorization, the FDA is allowing packaging for these products to display language stating “studies have shown that switching completely from conventional cigarettes to the IQOS system significantly reduces your body’s exposure to harmful or potentially harmful chemicals.”
We respect and have compassion for people who smoke and understand that some find it difficult to quit using traditional means. For those individuals, we support creative, evidence-based ways to help them stop smoking and as needed, move down the continuum of risk.
Global Action maintains its view that all youth must be protected from nicotine addiction and should not have access to heated tobacco products or any other products that contain nicotine. We further believe that a robust, science-backed regulatory and enforcement system is critical to ensuring those who have never used nicotine do not begin, and that all adults who smoke receive access to evidence-based education regarding tools that can help them quit or reduce their risks.
The above can be attributed to Katherine Ellen Foley, Senior Director, Communications at Global Action to End Smoking.