China’s Tobacco Industry ‘Harm Reduction and Lower Tar’ Claims Face Growing Skepticism

"What basis do you have to say that ('harm reduction and lower tar' research) can also reduce harm to humans? The experiments you conducted are merely low-end animal screening tests, which do not prove that harm can be reduced in animals." In 2011, Qin Yibo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, questioned Xie Jianping at a discussion meeting regarding Xie Jianping's selection qualifications.

In 2011, Xie Jianping was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. His academic "contribution" was the establishment of a system for evaluating and controlling the harmfulness of cigarettes, developing a series of new technologies for "harm reduction and lower tar".

However, to this day, "harm reduction and lower tar" has faced increasing skepticism from the outside world, yet this research has invigorated the marketing path of the tobacco industry.

"Harm reduction and lower tar" is highly questioned

Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemical components, among which the main harmful components include at least 69 known carcinogens (including benzo[a]pyrene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde, etc.), harmful gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, etc.), and nicotine, the culprit of addiction.

However, the cigarette harm evaluation method established by Xie Jianping only selected 7 harmful substances to evaluate the harm of cigarettes.

"The reduction of several components in cigarette smoke does not correspond to a reduction in the harm of cigarettes. The so-called reduction of harmful substances is merely a preliminary screening and cannot prove a reduction in harm to the human body," said Yang Gonghuan, deputy director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in an interview with Consumer Reports.

Internationally, over 40 independent large-scale human studies on "low tar cigarettes" have unanimously proven that cigarette "harm reduction and lower tar" cannot reduce the overall disease risk for smokers.

In 2012, a U.S. federal court ruled that tobacco companies' claims of "low tar" and "light" were false advertising, concealing the dangers of tobacco, and deliberately deceiving the public, requiring tobacco companies to clarify the truth: lower tar does not mean reduced harm.

It is worth noting that Xie Jianping himself has recognized the limitations of this method and the need for more comprehensive research. However, cigarettes evaluated as having a low harm index through this method have continued to sell well under the guise of "harm reduction and lower tar".

Yang Gonghuan pointed out that to prove a reduction in harm to the human body, there needs to be a scientifically standardized process, including in vitro studies, animal experiments, human studies, case studies, and cohort studies. This requires a significant investment of human and financial resources and can take decades.

"The state cannot advocate 'harm reduction and lower tar' research, and related technologies cannot be used to apply for national science and technology awards or to select academicians. Tobacco companies must not use false results for tobacco marketing. Both the public and the media should stand up to expose their fraudulent behavior," Yang Gonghuan said.

Consumers Pulling Out "Grass"

In 2008, Cynthia Robinson, the widow of a U.S. smoker, sued Reynolds Tobacco Company, claiming that the tobacco company concealed the dangers of tobacco. In July 2014, the court ruled that Reynolds Tobacco Company must pay Cynthia $236 billion.

Almost simultaneously, consumer Li Enze, who sued Jiangxi Tobacco Industrial Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Jiangxi Tobacco") for fraud regarding "harm reduction and lower tar," received a judgment of defeat in the second instance.

The fact that "harm reduction and lower tar" is a lie has become a consensus in the scientific community and among governments worldwide. The Chinese Ministry of Health's "Report on the Harm of Smoking in China" and a series of materials indicate that "low tar does not equal low harm" and that "herbal cigarettes are low harm" has no scientific basis. However, the court accepted the evidence submitted by Jiangxi Tobacco, namely the 2007 evaluation report by the Chinese Society of Toxicology proving that Jinsheng brand cigarettes were "harm reducing".

However, this extremely important evidence was mostly covered up on the grounds of "commercial secrets".

"These covered parts are likely to contain content unfavorable to tobacco companies," Li Enze inferred.

In fact, the Chinese Society of Toxicology publicly stated in 2013 that it had not authorized any cigarette companies, tobacco companies, or marketers to use the name of the "Chinese Society of Toxicology" and stated that it had not cooperated with tobacco companies.

The first case of a tobacco company being sued for "harm reduction and lower tar" fraud ended with the consumer losing in the second instance. However, even though litigation is difficult, there are still consumers who continue to face challenges.

At the end of 2014, Guangdong Wuye Shen Industrial Development Co., Ltd. was also sued for cigarette "harm reduction and lower tar" fraud. The plaintiff's attorney Xu Dejun introduced to our reporter that the first instance was still a victory for the tobacco company, but the plaintiff has already appealed.

Li Enze said: "I will continue to fight; I am prepared for a protracted battle." Currently, Li Enze has submitted a retrial application to the Beijing High People's Court.

Source: Consumer Reports