The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) has expressed concern that the World Health Organization (WHO) is disregarding consumer perspectives and enabling figures such as American billionaire Michael Bloomberg to promote policies that limit access to lower-risk nicotine products.
The WVA launched its “Voices Unheard – Consumers Matter!” campaign ahead of the World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) in Dublin to highlight that consumers are being excluded from global tobacco and nicotine policy discussions.
Vaper Ako, the Philippine counterpart of WVA, and Consumer Choice Philippines denounced the WHO and the Bloomberg Foundation for collaborating to limit consumer choices regarding nicotine products.
“The prohibitionist policies dictated by the WHO and the Bloomberg Foundation alienate smokers, deprive them of their right to choose less harmful products, and demonize the nicotine industry, which could fuel illicit trade,” said Vaper Ako spokesperson Joaqui Gallardo.
Gallardo observed that after nearly a decade of stagnation, smoking prevalence in the Philippines has climbed in recent years, coinciding with a boom in illicit trade of cigarettes and vapes. These unregulated products are sold at sharply lower prices than their legal counterparts, largely driven by steep tax rates.
He stressed that nicotine is not the problem, but how it is consumed. “Eliminating smoke in nicotine consumption significantly lowers exposure to harmful chemicals. As such, consumers should have the choice between cigarettes and less harmful, smoke-free products.”
Adolph Ilas, chairman of Consumer Choice Philippines, warned that restrictive policies on alternative products will worsen the smoking epidemic. While the World Health Organization and Bloomberg Foundation agree that a ban on smoking would exacerbate the problem, Ilas pointed out that both organizations are “pushing for a blanket ban on less harmful nicotine products such as vapes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, which have proven successful in helping millions of smokers quit in countries such as Sweden, the United Kingdom and Japan.”
Tobacco harm reduction must be embraced as a smarter public health approach to the global smoking crisis, Ilas argued. “That’s why it’s crucial for consumers to have a voice and take part in the global debate,” he said, calling for more inclusive decision-making.
With the upcoming 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) in Geneva in November 2025, the WVA campaign highlights the importance of including consumer perspectives in policy discussions. As experts and officials discuss regulations behind closed doors, a WVA light show in Dublin symbolized the voices of adults who have quit smoking with safer alternatives but remain unheard in policy debates.
WVA director Michael Landl condemned the outsized influence of figures such as Bloomberg, arguing that their push for prohibitionist approaches marginalizes those most impacted. “Policymakers need to hear directly from consumers,” he said. “It’s time for evidence—not ideology or billionaire-backed agendas—to lead the way.”
The protest comes amid growing concerns over the WHO’s aggressive opposition to harm reduction. The WVA warned that such measures could reverse the progress made by millions of adults who have successfully transitioned away from combustible cigarettes by using safer alternatives.
“Safer nicotine options can save lives—but only if backed by smart, science-driven policies,” said WVA policy and advocacy manager Alberto Gómez Hernández. “Consumers deserve a seat at the table. Clinging to outdated, dogmatic approaches that ignore harm reduction is slowing down global health gains.”
As COP11 nears, the WVA advocates for meaningful inclusion of consumers in tobacco control policymaking, the adoption of evidence-based harm reduction strategies, and a decisive shift away from approaches that marginalize those most likely to benefit from progressive, life-saving interventions.
