WHO welcomes Vietnam's ban on investment and trade in e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

On December 11th, the National Assembly officially passed the amended Investment Law, which adds e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to the list of prohibited investment and business sectors. The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the strong stance of the Vietnamese National Assembly on this decision.

According to the WHO, the Vietnamese National Assembly 's addition of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to the list of products prohibited from investment or trade is an important step in protecting public health.

Attractive and visually appealing e-cigarette products may contain drugs and other dangerous substances without the user's knowledge. (Photo: TN)

Previously, in November 2024, the National Assembly issued Resolution 173/2024/QH15 prohibiting the production, trading, import, transportation, storage, and use of these products, a significant milestone in public health that was highly appreciated by the international community.

The WHO Representative in Vietnam, Dr. Angela Pratt, affirmed that the WHO is very pleased with the decision to include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in the list of prohibited business sectors in the Investment Law without any exceptions. This is a key factor in ensuring the effective implementation of the National Assembly's ban under Resolution 173.

According to the WHO, any exemptions, exceptions, or loopholes in the Investment Law or related laws could lead to unintended consequences and severely diminish the public health impact of a decision to ban these products.

The WHO stated that allowing the production of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products for export, or allowing heated tobacco products made from pure tobacco, could lead to an influx of these products into the domestic market. Therefore, permitting production in any form would make the implementation of Resolution 173 very difficult, even impossible, and reduce the effectiveness of public health protection.

The WHO states that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products can cause serious health problems, especially for adolescents. Nicotine consumption in children and adolescents severely impacts brain development, leading to long-term consequences such as learning disabilities and anxiety. Furthermore, the toxic substances in these products increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease.

“E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are unsafe and very harmful to health. With the decision to include e-cigarettes in the list of prohibited business sectors, the National Assembly has affirmed that Vietnam will not trade health – a core element of social progress and economic development – ​​for short-term growth,” Dr. Pratt emphasized.

The WHO stated that it will continue to support the Vietnamese government in ensuring the effective implementation and strict enforcement of the ban, contributing to protecting the younger generation from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/who-hoan-nghenh-viet-nam-cam-dau-tu-va-kinh-doanh-thuoc-la-dien-tu-thuoc-la-nung-nong-20251211173643044.htm