The World Health Organization (WHO) has published the new report of the WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation, developed from its meeting held in Barcelona in 2024. The Tobacco Control Unit (UCT) participated actively, with experts Esteve Fernández, Cristina Martínez, and Armando Peruga in attendance. This report provides the WHO Director-General with evidence-based recommendations for Member States on regulating tobacco and nicotine products, offering a solid foundation to strengthen regulatory policies at the international level.
The recommendations of the WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg), composed of international experts, help fill knowledge gaps in the regulation of nicotine and tobacco products and guide Member States in reducing tobacco demand and protecting public health.
The study group reviewed eight reference documents, specially commissioned for this meeting, which addressed key topics:
- Regulation of tobacco and related products
- Priorities for the protection of children and young people
- Flavors in tobacco and nicotine products: new developments and regulatory implications
- Science of sugars in tobacco and nicotine products and updates to regulatory recommendations
- Cigarette filters: impact on smoking behavior, health, and the environment
- Design, additives, and accessories of cigarettes and their effects on addiction, appeal, and toxicity
- Aldehydes and metals in e-liquids as potential regulatory targets
- Smokeless tobacco: a complex landscape and future regulatory considerations
- Characteristics of tobacco and nicotine products and relevant technical standards
The final recommendations of the report aim to promote international coordination of regulatory efforts, the adoption of best practices, and the strengthening of regulatory capacity across all WHO regions. The UCT reaffirms its commitment to research and tobacco control policies, actively contributing to global initiatives to protect public health.
The full report is available [here].