German Tobacco Industry Also Criticizes WHO: Previous Allegations on E-cigarettes Ignored Scientific

The accusations previously made by the World Health Organization (WHO), claiming that e-cigarettes are not an appropriate alternative for reducing smoking, ignore a large body of scientific evidence and have increased consumer anxiety.

“The WHO is clinging to misguided public health dogma and ignoring the growing body of independent scientific knowledge related to e-cigarettes,” said Jan Mücke, CEO of the German Association of the Tobacco Industry and New Products (BVTE), today in Berlin. “The fact is that exposure to harmful substances is far lower when using e-cigarettes than when smoking.”

The WHO denies that e-cigarettes are a suitable alternative for reducing smoking, emphasizes the health risks of e-cigarettes, and accuses manufacturers of spreading false information about their advantages.

In Germany, switching to e-cigarettes is the most commonly used form of support for quitting smoking and is more effective than other methods such as medical nicotine replacement products. Institutions such as the German Cancer Research Center (dkfz) and UK health authorities have confirmed that switching to e-cigarettes can significantly reduce consumers’ exposure to harmful substances. References to the harm reduction potential of e-cigarettes reflect a growing scientific consensus and are not false information from the tobacco industry.

In fact, through its alarmist misinformation, the WHO continues in Germany to significantly overestimate the health risks of using e-cigarettes compared with smoking. CEO Jan Mücke said, “We need a WHO information policy based on facts and science that recognizes and supports the opportunities for adult smokers to reduce risk.”

There is no evidence that e-cigarettes are a gateway product to smoking. Even so, minors should not use these nicotine-containing products. BVTE calls for strict enforcement of existing regulations prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, along with severe penalties for violations.