Author: Alishba Naeem Ansari (Research Assistant)

The Heated Tobacco Products (HTP) are alternatives to common cigarettes that use aerosols containing nicotine and tobacco. The producers of HTPs claim that it is less harmful compared to common cigarettes as tobacco is heated up to 350° and not burned (600°) like conventional cigarettes. However, citing lack of sufficient evidence World Health Organization (WHO) cautions against concluding that HTPs are less harmful (WHO, 2020).

Comparison with Conventional Cigarettes
Independent studies from Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom have found that although level of toxicants are low in HTP emissions, additional toxins are found in the smoke of HTPs. As for absorption of nicotine in blood, level of absorption (nicotine delivery) is less for HTPs than conventional cigarettes with exception of IQOS (WHO, 2020). Given these findings, the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) recognizes HTPs as “tobacco products” subject, to the provisions of WHO FCTC (WHO, 2020). Regardless of the degree of nicotine delivery and emission of toxins, the addictive nature of nicotine cannot be overlooked.

State of HTP acceptance around the World
HTPs are categorized as Reduced-Risk Products (RRP) alongside E-cigarettes and Vapes and are regarded as instrumental in harm reduction strategy and quitting (cessation aids) by Tobacco Industry. However, in disguise of marketing slogans like “heat not burn” and “harm reduction” the HTPs use is being normalized around the world (Janjua & Naqvi, 2020). For example, United States recently authorized IQOS sale in the country (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). While some countries have resorted to ban E-cigarettes and HTPs alike, others have resorted to devise regulations that control its growth. India, Australia, Brazil, Norway and Singapore are among the countries that have banned it.

HTP Regularization in Pakistan
HTPs are unofficially available in Pakistan and not restricted or banned. The Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination in Pakistan proposed to regulate and legalize the products through a Statutory Regulatory Order. The SROs having been approved by the federal cabinet in December last year (Business Recorder, 2022). However, the legalization of HTPs shall also benefit the large tobacco companies in Pakistan. There are only three dominant companies in the tobacco industry as listed in Table:1, of these the two that make the most of market share (Sabir et al., 2022) are subsidiaries of multinational companies that have heavily invested in HTPs. The Company A holds second most market share and has been planning to bring HTPs in Pakistan (Abbas, 2020).  Although it has not brought HTPs officially, the product is being sold both online and at stores. Being unregulated there is even no custom duty being collected for HTPs as observable from Table: 2.