Sweden Urges WHO to Focus on Smokeless Alternatives

Oct.23.2023
Sweden Urges WHO to Focus on Smokeless Alternatives
Swedish tobacco research institute urges WHO to focus on Sweden's success in reducing smoking-related deaths with smoke-free alternatives.

In recent news, a recent research paper published by the Institute of Tobacco Studies in Sweden (ITS) has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to take note of Sweden's successful large-scale transition to smokeless alternative products in order to reduce global smoking-related deaths.


According to the paper, the best example comes from Sweden, where the male smoking rate is the lowest in the European Union, hence resulting in the lowest tobacco-related mortality rate.


The Swedish Tobacco Research Institute (ITS) recently published a paper highlighting its successful experiences in reducing global smoking-related mortality rates. The paper calls on the World Health Organization (WHO) to shift its focus towards smokeless alternatives. This paper has been published on Qeios and is available for download.


The principal investigator of this study is Dr. Lars M. Ramström, who has previously served as an expert for the World Health Organization and as the Secretary-General of international conferences on smoking and health issues.


According to the paper, "The WHO needs to employ all evidence-based strategies to reduce tobacco-related mortality." The paper also emphasizes that harm reduction is one of the three pillars of tobacco control measures and without it, the measures advocated by the WHO to reduce demand and supply will be ineffective.


In addition, this study also brings to the attention of the World Health Organization the experiences of countries like Sweden, Norway, Japan, and New Zealand. The study emphasizes that in Japan, a significant number of smokers have shifted towards heated tobacco products, resulting in a decline in smoking rates from approximately 20% in 2014 to 13% in 2019.


The paper ultimately urges the World Health Organization to base their tobacco policies on scientific evidence and to follow the example of Sweden.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Vape Club: Over 1.3 Million Illegal E-Cigarettes Seized in UK by 2025, Worth £10 Million on Streets
Vape Club: Over 1.3 Million Illegal E-Cigarettes Seized in UK by 2025, Worth £10 Million on Streets
Vape Club report reveals 1.3 million illegal e-cigarettes seized in UK by 2025, worth £10 million on the streets.
Mar.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philippine DTI Says Flavored Vape Products With Minor-Appealing Descriptors Are “100 Percent Smuggled”
Philippine DTI Says Flavored Vape Products With Minor-Appealing Descriptors Are “100 Percent Smuggled”
A Philippine Department of Trade and Industry official told a Senate hearing on vaping regulations that flavored vape products marketed with descriptors attractive to minors are “100 percent smuggled” and did not pass the agency’s licensing process.
Mar.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
New Zealand Vape Company Alt Becomes Government Partner After Suing Over Nicotine Limits
New Zealand Vape Company Alt Becomes Government Partner After Suing Over Nicotine Limits
Health NZ signed a NZD 500,000 contract with New Zealand-owned vape company Alt NZ Limited in December 2025 for its free vape kit programme for smokers, with more than 7,000 kits distributed so far.
Mar.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FDA Authorizes Glas Vape but Flavor Hopes Fall Short
FDA Authorizes Glas Vape but Flavor Hopes Fall Short
The FDA has added Glas products to its authorized electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) list, granting Marketing Granted Orders (MGOs) to the Glas G DEVICE and a BLONDE TOBACCO pod. The decision expands the number of FDA-authorized ENDS products to 41, marking the first new authorization since Juul’s approvals in July 2025. However, widely anticipated non-tobacco flavored products were not approved.
Mar.13
The Volume Illusion: Measuring the Future of Nicotine with the Tools of the Past
The Volume Illusion: Measuring the Future of Nicotine with the Tools of the Past
As next-generation nicotine products become economically central rather than marginal, traditional volume-based metrics are increasingly unable to explain consumption, risk, and value. Units designed for a cigarette-based economy struggle to describe systems defined by delivery speed, pharmacokinetics, and adaptive user behavior. Drawing on financial reporting, regulation, and nicotine science, a fundamental question: can the future of nicotine still be measured using the tools of its past?
Feb.09 by Alan Zhao | 2Firsts Perspectives
Breaking: Smoore Shares Fall More Than 16% Intraday in Morning Trade After Results Release, Investor Presentation
Breaking: Smoore Shares Fall More Than 16% Intraday in Morning Trade After Results Release, Investor Presentation
Smoore International (6969.HK) released its 2025 results on March 17 and held an investor presentation on the morning of March 18. In morning trade on March 18, the company’s shares fell more than 16% intraday, hitting a low of HK$9.94.
Mar.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai