The International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (Innco) cited the influence of non-government organizations backed by Bloomberg Initiative on regulators such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The legislators in Philippines recently questioned the conflict of interest in their FDA receiving funds from these NGOs while pushing anti-vaping policy,” Samrat Chowdhery, Innco president and tobacco harm reduction advocate, said during a virtual forum that presented the 2020 Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction report. Electronic cigarette and heated tobacco products (HTP) advocacy groups alleged that the FDA received grants from foreign groups while drafting regulations on e-cigarettes and HTPs. An FDA official admitted that the agency received grants from foreign anti-tobacco advocates. He stressed the need to allow and promote tobacco harm reduction alternatives to prevent disease and early death.

Source: Manila Times November 18, 2020 15:56 UTC