BAT Kenya has called on the Ministry of Health to apply science in its approach to health warnings related to tobacco-free nicotine products, saying it is inappropriate to equate and treat them like cigarettes.
Speaking in Machakos on Wednesday, BAT Kenya Managing Director, Crispin Achola, said the Government should instead employ effective policies that reflect the reduced risk profile of the novel smokeless products, adding that the company supports science-based regulations.
This follows the recent publication by the Ministry of Health of draft graphic health warnings for tobacco products that seek to make it mandatory for both traditional cigarettes and smokeless nicotine products to prominently display similar health warnings.
The tobacco industry has come out strongly to oppose the inclusion of graphic health warnings on smokeless nicotine products, arguing that they are not in the same category as cigarettes, as they do not contain tobacco. The industry has called for a differentiation of tobacco from smokeless products arguing that the latter carry less risk compared to cigarettes as they are not combusted to release toxicants as is the case of traditional tobacco products.
“Regarding the draft Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs), our position is to maintain Text Health Warnings on smokeless nicotine products. In our view, GHWs are not appropriate for these products as that would treat them like cigarettes. Effective policy should reflect the reduced risk profile of these novel smokeless products.
He said the firm is not opposed to regulation but advocates for balanced regulation that achieves intended public health goals, while acknowledging the spectrum of rights and obligations on industry, consumers, government, and related stakeholders. As important, is compliance with the Constitution and Tobacco Control Laws, which provide for robust stakeholder participation in policy making.
“As a manufacturer of tobacco and nicotine products, it is our responsibility to provide expert information based on proven science and consumer insights to facilitate informed policy making for our industry,” said Achola.
He added that to facilitate this, it is important that regulation on smokeless nicotine products is differentiated from that of traditional cigarettes adding that there is proven science to support this view, which has been submitted during this public participation exercise.
BAT Kenya’s position follows calls by the tobacco industry for a review of the Tobacco Control Act, 2007, to accommodate new tobacco-free alternative products that would accord cigarette smokers access to reduced risk alternatives that would help them switch from smoking.
The Ministry of Health has been holding public participation forums across seven counties namely Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Nyeri, Embu, Mombasa and Machakos to collect views and comments from the public and industry stakeholders on the proposed graphic health warnings. Views submitted at these forums will now be considered by the Ministry before revised proposals are shared with Parliament for consideration.