Tobacco industry figures are looking to convince decision-makers that e-cigarettes and vaping are an alternative in the heavy-smoking Middle East. So far, they have met with tough resistance. E-cigarettes and vaping products are banned in Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar — although they are widely available on the black market — as regulators fear a vaping epidemic among teenagers that is similar to the one in the US. While the UAE allows the sale of e-cigarettes, regulators do not support their use as part of efforts to encourage smokers to quit, and there are curbs on their promotion and advertising. Speaking at the World Vape Show in Dubai last week, several key tobacco sector figures said they are pushing for a scenario such as the one in the UK and the US, where vapes are supported as medicinal products and doctors can recommend them to heavy cigarette smokers. Dr Hugo Tan, regional head of scientific engagement in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East for British American Tobacco, said: “Tobacco harm reduction [THR] is not new and has been adopted by many other countries like the UK, US, France and Germany. “What is important is a public health strategy that recognises the health impact of combustible cigarettes. “It should aim to reduce the risk of smoking cigarettes and empower the user to switch completely to alternative or scientifically substantiated alternatives like vaping or other products. “It is important to generate local data that represents the local demographics so the potential effects can be assessed to help to shape policy. “Fundamentally, change is required in this region from an industry perspective to persuade more smokers to adopt alternatives.” Click for more : Tobacco industry looks to win over Gulf regulators in the great vape debate
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