GNTF 2023 Opens First-Day Discussion on ‘Consumer First’ as Experts Share Advice for Engaging Regula

On the afternoon of September 19, the GNTF forum held a discussion themed “Consumer First.”

【Reported by 2Firsts from Seoul, South Korea】At 3:45 p.m. local time on September 19, the 2023 Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GNTF) opened in Seoul. The first day’s discussion focused on “Consumer First.” Speakers shared their views on a number of key issues, including the current state of U.S. FDA enforcement, the future of safer nicotine products in the United States, whether consumers can easily access products after market compliance is achieved, and how the vaping industry can help consumers. 

Forum venue | Image source: 2Firsts 

The first-day session was moderated by public health policy expert and Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas. Panelists included Alex Clark, CEO of the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (joining online); Samrat Chowdhery, former president of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations; Matt Drodge, Research Director at Walnut Unlimited; Clarisse Yvette Virgino, a CAPHRA member; and Fiona Patten, leader of the Reason Party and former member of the Victorian Legislative Council (participating via pre-recorded video). 

Forum venue | Image source: 2Firsts 

Alex Clark said that no flavored e-cigarettes in the United States have currently received marketing authorization through the Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) process. He said he was pleased to see increasing use of smoke-free alternatives, noting that the category continued to grow even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some U.S. states, such as New York and California, have banned flavored e-cigarettes, and Ohio is also “moving in that direction.” Many products currently used by consumers have no guarantees at all, and he hopes people will eventually be able to access products they can trust. Clark added that he is glad there are still vape shops open in the United States. In his view, the FDA’s regulatory approach “could have been simpler,” and the entire vaping industry should push regulators to enact sound legislation. 

Alex Clark believes the current situation in the U.S. e-cigarette market is the result of the FDA not having completed PMTA reviews, because the agency did not realize how large the vape market was and was simply unprepared. 

Fiona Patten, leader of Australia’s Reason Party and former member of the Victorian Legislative Council, said the Australian government has not truly implemented tobacco harm reduction (THR) policies. Under current policy, 99% of Australians buy e-cigarettes on the black market, and “organized crime” is effectively the way all e-cigarettes are sold in Australia. As consumers, she said, people need to make the government aware of this in order to drive policy progress. 

CAPHRA member Clarisse Yvette Virgino said access to e-cigarettes is a double-edged sword. “I’ve seen students under 18 using e-cigarettes. Many started in high school and continued into college,” he said. “I asked my students, were you smoking traditional cigarettes before you used e-cigarettes? They laughed.” Many policymakers are strongly opposed to e-cigarettes and actively stigmatize them. That has contributed to the current anti-vaping sentiment in the Philippines. 

On how the vaping industry can help consumers, Alex said the entire industry should push regulators to enact proper legislation, while Clarisse said the industry should educate smokers to use the right products.