United States Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of reduced exposure claims for IQOS®: implications for regulation in Latin America

Philip Morris International has used the July 7, 2020 United States Food and Drug Administration’s (US FDA) modified risk tobacco product order for IQOS®, which authorized certain reduced exposure marketing claims, as a corporate strategy to promote and normalize its heated tobacco products in Latin America. The modified risk tobacco product orders are based on the US’s unique regulatory system that is not, and should not be, replicated anywhere else in the world.

First genetic characterization of human cystic echinococcosis in Uruguay

Cystic echinococcosis is endemic and hyperendemic in Uruguay. The objective of this study was to determine the species and genotype of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in symptomatic patients with cystic echinococcosis who underwent surgery, together with the location and stage of the cysts. The study included 13 patients aged between 6 and 57 years old. Samples of cysts from these cases were analyzed using DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. The results revealed the presence of E.

The case for investment in tobacco control: lessons from four countries in the Americas

Objective

To synthesize learnings from four national tobacco control investment cases conducted in the Americas (Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Suriname) under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) 2030 project, to describe results and how national health authorities have used the cases, and to discuss implications for the role of investment cases in advancing tobacco control.

Tackling tobacco control beyond health: a comprehensive approach

Tobacco use is a common risk factor for the four main non-communicable diseases, claiming more than eight million lives globally every year and over one million lives annually in the Americas. Its effects are extensive and cross-cutting, including health, social, economic, and environmental. Encouragingly, there has been significant progress in combatting the tobacco epidemic in the Region of the Americas over the past two decades since the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005.

Using MPOWER policies to address tobacco impact on the environment

[Extract ] It is now well established that the entire tobacco production and consumption chain harms the environment.(1-10) Although research continues to emerge documenting the extent of the negative impact of tobacco products, as well as electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems, on the environment, and the associated costs of this impact, the evidence is sufficient to warrant a discussion of a range of policies to mitigate current and prevent future harms to the environment caused by these products.

Overcoming tobacco industry opposition to standardized packaging in the Americas

Countries in the Region of the Americas have been slow to adopt standardized packaging of tobacco products. The objectives of this analysis are to report on the progress made in adopting such packaging in countries in the Region, review known tobacco industry strategies for opposing these policies and discuss the resources available to academics, advocates and policy-makers who might be interested in advancing the use of standardized packaging in the Region. Of the 23 countries worldwide that have fully adopted standardized packaging laws, only 2 are in the Region (Canada and Uruguay).

Moving forward in the Americas: tobacco control fosters sustainable development

[Extract] The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.3 billion people in the world aged 15 years and older consume tobacco, of which 128 million (10%) live in the Region of the Americas. Since 2000, when WHO estimates started, the number of tobacco users in the Americas has reduced by 22.4%, from 165 million to 128 million users, even with concurrent population growth. Despite this progress, without additional tobacco control actions, the current projection by 2025 is that around 118 million people will still be using tobacco in the Americas (1).

Tobacco control in the Americas: what is needed and what is next?

[Extract] Every year, tobacco use leads to more than eight million deaths globally and one million deaths in the Region of the Americas (1,2). The global economic cost of smoking is estimated to be US$ 1.4 trillion yearly and it disproportionately affects people in low-and middle-income countries (1). The devastating health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke ultimately constrain development (3).

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