Good COP 2.0 – Daily Download: Tuesday, November 18

Experts Urge Reform, Challenge WHO’s Approach to Harm Reduction

Overview of the Day

The second day of Good COP 2.0 expanded on themes of transparency, scientific integrity, and global harm reduction challenges. Expert panels and regional voices highlighted tensions between evidence-based public health and calls for continued prohibition. Discussions underscored what is at stake for consumers and policymakers as COP11 national delegations such as New Zealand and Serbia call for a more flexible harm reduction approach.

What the Experts Are Saying:

Morning Sessions:

Regulator Watch & Opening Remarks (David Williams, Martin Cullip, Marina Murphy, and Maria Papaioannoy) 

“When practitioners are studying medicine, they are well educated on the dangers of smoking but not well educated on the benefits of quitting and switching to safer products. Good COP provides a platform to discuss and evaluate the evidence on the benefits of harm reduction.” – Marina Murphy

“It’s critical that Good COP serves as a forum where people can talk and have disagreements. COP11 is not being open and transparent to the public in their pursuit of the failed rigid idea of prohibition.” – David Williams

“If you can make people healthier using these harm reduction products, you can not only transform lives but give taxpayers a break on high healthcare costs.” – David Williams

“Serbia said yesterday at COP11 that they wanted science to be included in the discussion. Instead, COP11 is leaving out the evidence and stacking the deck with pro-prohibition voices. The echo chamber’s delusionary thinking is beyond belief.” – Martin Cullip

Panel Discussion: “A Dangerous Game: Is Stubborn FCTC Secretariat Ideology Eroding Trust in Public Health?” (Maria Papaioannoy, Gabriel Oke, Liza Katsiashvili, Heneage Mitchell)

“I think the more ideological these health institutions are, the more they are eroding trust with the public. Consumers should not be treated as stupid people who cannot make their own decisions.” – Liza Katsiashvili

“When I see a public health organization stand up and say, ‘We made a mistake,’ that shows they care about people and the truth more than their egos. Instead, they are doubling down on misinformation.” – Maria Papaioannoy

“We know there’s at least half a million people vaping a day in Thailand. National restrictions are resulting in untaxed and unregulated products that are falling into the hands of children.” – Heneage Mitchell

COP’s Most Threatening Initiatives for Harm Reduction (Jeffrey Zamora, Carmen Escrig, Dr. Diego Verrastro, Julio Ruades, Juan Jose Cirion)

“The President of Mexico is disregarding the separation of powers, ignoring the people, and creating a constitutional dilemma by banning the sale of vapes.” – Juan Jose Cirion

Afternoon Panels:

Panel Discussion: “The Battle Over Science” (Dr. Marina Murphy, Dr. Mark Tyndall, Dr. Roberto Sussman, Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, Professor Sharifa Ezat)

“It is very disappointing that authorities who should know better are ignoring science. Nothing is zero risk, but THR product aerosols are far safer than tobacco smoke.” – Roberto Sussman

“There are a billion smokers in the world and 8 million premature deaths annually related to tobacco. Any appropriate science-based intervention will save lives. But rash policies based on hysteria will cost lives.” – Konstantinos Farsalinos

“In Japan, many of the smokers have already converted to reduced risk alternatives such as heat-not-burn products. Unfortunately, authorities in other countries are relying on flawed and incomplete studies to adopt the opposite approach.” – Sharifa Ezat

Panel Discussion: “People v. Paternalism – How Can Consumer Groups Counter Anti-THR Narratives?” (Benjamin Elks, Christopher Snowdon, Maria Papaioannoy) 

“You wind up with these highly resourced pressure groups constantly chipping away at peoples’ freedoms and the people have had enough.” – Christopher Snowdon

“There is nothing more powerful than an informed advocate.” – Maria Papaioannoy

Good COP Consumers Showcase: Messages to the FCTC Secretariat and Delegations (Jeffrey Zamora, Jeannie Cameron, David Williams, Juan Jose Cirion)

“Consumers need a voice in the forum of COP. They’ve been left out.” – Jeannie Cameron

“Instead of listening to the real people that need these products, the WHO deflects. It’s long past time for them to bring taxpayers and consumers into the conversation.” – David Williams

Dispatches from COP11

TPA was pleased to see that “Good COP” was mentioned in the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control’s “COP11 Bulletin Day 1”: “The US-based Taxpayers Protection Alliance planned parallel events and condemned the WHO FCTC for neglecting harm reduction.” We will continue to hold WHO accountable for neglecting the voices of taxpayers and consumers around the world.

Additionally, today at COP11, the Maldives addressed “any imposter”: “This is the only #GoodCOP. Period.” We beg to differ but welcome the shoutout!

Key Takeaways

• Public trust in global health institutions was a recurring theme.
• Speakers highlighted a widening divide between scientific evidence and FCTC Secretariat ideology.
• Regional voices emphasized real-world consequences of restrictive nicotine policies.

Looking Ahead: Wednesday Preview

Tomorrow’s sessions will feature new research on the Southeast Asia (SEARO) and the Western Pacific (WPRO) regions, panel discussions on science and regulation in Asia-Pacific, and firsthand accounts from consumer advocates.

Media

Stream the conference LIVE here. All media queries should be sent to Kara@protectingtaxpayers.org

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is organizing a rapid response and fact checking conference in Geneva, Switzerland as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meets for their biennial Conference of the Parties (Bad COP) to discuss tobacco-related issues. TPA’s event “Conference of the People (Good COP)” brings in experts and consumers, often ignored by WHO, to be heard during the discussion of tobacco and tobacco harm reduction. The Conference of the People (Good COP) is a launch vehicle for a broader coalition of taxpayer, free market, and harm reduction organizations to counter the message from the FCTC Secretariat and specifically address issues brought forth at COP. Currently, there is no cohesive, organized message to balance the misinformation stemming from the WHO and institutions under the auspices of the FCTC.