Vapers ask WHO to think risk reduction

The vaper organization, European Vapers United Network (EVUN), has added its voice to the growing call for the World Health Organization to be guided by the principle of risk reduction when considering electronic cigarettes.

According to a story on the Nicotine Science and Policy website, vaping organizations from 13 countries have written to WHO’s director general, Dr. Margaret Chan, ahead of the organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control meeting in October.

They have appealed to the WHO not to succumb to unjustified fear or do anything that would obstruct the opportunities for risk reduction provided by electronic cigarettes.

Their letter follows one penned by 53 scientists in May asking WHO to recognize the harm reduction opportunities of electronic-cigarettes and other safer nicotine products. It said that WHO should see these products as part of the smoking solution, not as part of the problem.

National vaping organizations have sent copies of the EVUN letter also to their national governments and health ministers.

A copy of the EVUN letter is at: http://nicotinepolicy.net/documents/letters/july2014-to-miss-chan-and-annex.pdf.

Contact details of the vaping organizations are at: http://nicotinepolicy.net/who-is-who/consumers.