The World Health Organization Urges Countries To Treat E-cigarettes Equally With Traditional Tobacco And Ban All Flavors

According to Reuters London, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a document on December 14th urging governments to treat e-cigarettes equally with traditional tobacco and ban all flavors, which could threaten tobacco companies' investment in tobacco alternatives.
Some researchers, advocates, and governments view e-cigarettes as an important tool to reduce tobacco induced deaths and diseases. But United Nations agencies say there is an "urgent need" to take measures to control them.
The World Health Organization cites some studies that there is not enough evidence to prove that e-cigarettes help smokers quit smoking, and they are harmful to health and may cause nicotine addiction in non-smokers, especially children and adolescents.
Globally, the number of 13-15 year olds using e-cigarettes exceeds that of adults in all regions affected by the World Health Organization. In the World Health Organization's press release, guidance on the strong marketing of e-cigarettes was cited.
The World Health Organization article mentions that "children and adolescents are lured and bound to the chain of e-cigarettes from an early age, and may become addicted to nicotine.".
WHO Secretary General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries to implement strict measures.
The changes called for by the World Health Organization include banning all seasonings such as menthol, as well as implementing tobacco control measures for e-cigarettes, including high taxes on e-cigarettes and banning their use in public places. But the World Health Organization has no authority over national regulations and can only provide guidance, which is usually voluntarily accepted and implemented.
The World Health Organization and some other anti tobacco organizations are pushing for stricter regulation of new nicotine products and cracking down on alternatives to future strategies of tobacco giants such as Phimoto International and British American Tobacco.
Major tobacco companies hope to establish new sources of revenue through tobacco substitutes to cope with the pressure brought by shrinking smoking rates and strict regulations on tobacco products to some markets.
The tobacco industry claims that e-cigarettes have much lower health risks than tobacco and help reduce the harm of tobacco. They believe that certain flavors and lower prices are crucial in encouraging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, and some tobacco control advocates also hold the same position.
The World Health Organization states that e-cigarettes produce certain substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and pose risks to heart and lung health. The report cites research suggesting that they can also damage the brain development of young people.