Public Health on Top

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has recently put forth a draft amendment to the existing tobacco control law where it proposes a ban on the import, sale, and marketing of e-cigarettes and vaping products. However, Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Traders Association (BENDSTA) has recently become particularly active to remove this provision from the draft amendment. In a recent press briefing, BENDSTA has claimed that developed countries such as the US, UK, and Canada are resorting to vaping as a tool to curb smoking, which is an utter lie. The countries mentioned have been struggling to rein the vaping addiction among the youth. 32 countries, including neighboring India, have already banned vaping. BENDSTA has also claimed that vaping is 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes and that inhaling secondhand vape smoke is harmless. This also gravely contradicts scientific findings. In the WHO REPORT ON THE GLOBAL TOBACCO EPIDEMIC, 2021 report, the organization mentions, that such products "pose serious health concerns.” A growing body of scientific research also suggests that inhaling secondhand vape smoke also causes severe injury to one's health.
Citing Consumer Choice Centre (CCC), BENDSTA claimed that introducing vaping as an alternative or cessation tool will result in 6.2 million Bangladeshis quitting traditional cigarettes. It should be noted that Consumer Choice Centre itself is an organization sponsored by big tobacco companies such as Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Philip Morris International (PMI). BENDSTA went on claiming that "considering the benefits of vaping, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of the US has approved the sale of vape products in open markets." This is an intentional distortion of facts. In a 2016 report released from the office of the US Surgeon General, e-cigarettes and other associated products have been listed as unsafe. Following the death of 42 individuals from health complications caused by the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, FDA has formulated a set of restrictions with regard to the use and marketing of vape products.
BENDSTA also demanded that the Health Ministry must discuss with the organization before making any decision regarding vaping. However, Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) mandates that while formulating public health policies, countries should not discuss or consult with tobacco companies or other groups that have certain commercial interests in the issue. Bangladesh is the first country to sign WHO FCTC which bars BENSTA and other similar groups from taking part in formulating vape-related policies.
So, Bangladesh should keep the interference of such commercially-motivated groups at bay and amend the existing tobacco control law to ensure a ban on the import, sale, and marketing of e-cigarettes and vape products.