Research Required for the Effective Implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Articles 9 and 10

Abstract

This paper is part of a series of articles intended to set out the research questions that are relevant to the successful implementation of the various provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This paper focuses on issues affecting Articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC. This paper focuses on the research that is most important for most countries, rather than on what is desirable in countries with high levels of research capacity.Articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC address the regulation of contents and emissions of tobacco products and regulation of tobacco product disclosure. Such regulation will be essential if the long-term objective of reducing the danger of tobacco products is to be achieved. There are many components of tobacco and tobacco smoke that are excessively toxic and dangerous to the user. Many of these components are carcinogenic and addictive and can be removed or reduced substantially with current known technology. The fact that these components remain in tobacco and tobacco smoke at levels that are unnecessarily dangerous is precisely the reason why the successful implementation of Articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC is important to tobacco control. This paper discusses the scientific challenges involved in successfully implementing Articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC, which focuses on regulating carcinogens and toxins in tobacco and tobacco smoke, the abuse liability of tobacco products, and the additives and engineering features in tobacco products that make tobacco products appealing to future consumers.The research issues we focus on are those required to support the early stages of regulation. As regulation proceeds, new and more sophisticated research questions will undoubtedly emerge.

Public Understanding of Cigarette Smoke Chemicals: Longitudinal Study of US Adults and Adolescents

“…In addition, the tobacco industry has continued efforts to downplay the potential harms of cigarette smoke chemicals and to resist providing reliable chemical information, thereby undermining enactment of disclosures. 25,26 Perhaps as a consequence of the general lack of awareness of cigarette smoke chemicals, we found that fewer than half of both adolescents and adults correctly attributed the source of most chemicals to the tobacco combustion process, pointing to the need for increased efforts to promote accurate understanding of the source of greatest harm from chemicals in cigarette smoke. It is also troubling that accurate perceptions of chemical source actually decreased for both adults and adolescents.…”

Public opinions on disclosure of tobacco components

“…Similar findings have been reported in other studies. [ 19 , 20 ] Finally, the major perceived needs for public disclosure were “consumer right to know” among smokers and “smoking prevention” among nonsmokers. Thus, detailed disclosure of tobacco and smoke components would aid quitting by smokers and encourage nonsmokers to continue to abstain, which are the desired outcomes of Articles 9 and 10.…”

Regulation of toxic contents of smokeless tobacco products

“…Given the huge variation in the toxic contents of currently available SLT products, it becomes extremely imperative to consider the acceptable levels of harm. According to Gray and Borland 70 , there are three major regulatory possibilities for tobacco: ( i ) regulation of carcinogens and toxins such as TNSAs, B[a]P and metals; ( ii ) regulation of nicotine for addictiveness, and ( iii ) regulation of additives. Considering the wide variations in chemical content and lack of monitoring agencies, there is an immediate need to develop validated methods for estimating the toxicity/carcinogenicity of SLT products 70 .…”