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May 24, 2019
Age Matters: PMI Calls All Tobacco and E-Cigarette Companies To Do Their Part to Guard Against Youth Nicotine Use
PMI’s vision of a smoke-free future is supported by its long-established policy to ensure its only goal is to switch adult smokers
LAUSANNE,
“Given the rapid pace of innovation in the tobacco products space, we
are emphatic that youth should not use any tobacco- or
nicotine-containing product. Nicotine is addictive. It is not risk-free,
and it poses particular risks for adolescents. We know that great care
must be taken to achieve our smoke-free goal. Youth should not become
nicotine users. Former smokers and never smokers should not return to,
or pick up, the tobacco or nicotine habit. The entire effort must be on
providing better choices to the men and women who smoke today,”
reiterated André Calantzopoulos, CEO of
He continues: “PMI takes that responsibility seriously. Our ‘Good Conversion Practices’ serve as the company’s bedrock for encouraging adult smokers to switch while working to prevent unintended use in the countries where we sell innovative products that do not burn tobacco. In our IQOS stores, we refuse to offer these products to people who have never smoked or those who have quit smoking. We are also clear that these products are not risk-free or a safe alternative to cigarettes. Similarly, our marketing standards are rooted in the principle that we market and sell our products to adult smokers.”
“Increasing the legal age of purchase for tobacco and nicotine products
can play an important role in further guarding against youth use of such
products, together with access control and education that has to expand
from cigarette smoking prevention to the use of any nicotine product.
However, that effort must first begin with companies themselves. Tobacco
and e-cigarette manufacturers must have the right approach, the right
product and the right science as well as robust post-market surveillance
programs to ensure new tobacco and nicotine technologies reach their
intended audience—men and women who currently smoke. PMI turned to
commercializing our smoke-free products only after we were confident we
got all three right,” said PMI COO
In countries where IQOS, PMI’s heated tobacco system, is sold,
real-world data shows we are reaching current adult smokers—in other
words, the correct audience. In
In the U.S., PMI affirms, the best way tobacco and e-cigarette companies
can address the most serious issues, such as underage use, is by
availing themselves of the opportunity presented by review and
authorization by the
“There is a balance that must be struck. Youth should not use nicotine products. That is beyond dispute. At the same time, public policy needs to recognize the role that new smoke-free tobacco and other nicotine-containing products can play in helping move adult smokers away from cigarettes. Achieving this balance is absolutely necessary to realizing a true public health breakthrough, and requires close coordination with the regulatory agencies pre and most importantly post-market,” adds Mr. Calantzopoulos.
To date, PMI has invested over
-ENDS-
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190423005816/en/
Source:
Media enquiries
Ryan Sparrow, Philip Morris International
T:
+41 79 549 1968
E: ryan.sparrow@pmi.com