Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its tenth report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025, highlighting the progress made in reducing tobacco use globally and pointing out areas that still need attention.

Key Findings from the WHO Report on Tobacco Epidemic 2025

1. WHO MPOWER Measures:
   • The MPOWER initiative, introduced by the WHO in 2007, includes six key policy prescriptions aimed at reducing tobacco consumption. Since its introduction, 155 countries have implemented at least one of these measures, benefitting over 6.1 billion people.
   • The six MPOWER components are:
     1. Monitor: Tracking tobacco use and prevention policies.
     2. Protect: Protecting non-smokers from exposure to tobacco smoke.
     3. Warning: Including graphic health warnings on tobacco packages.
     4. Offer help: Providing resources for quitting tobacco use.
     5. Enforce: Enforcing laws prohibiting tobacco advertising and sponsorship.
     6. Raise taxes: Increasing taxes on tobacco products.
2. Most Implemented Measure:
   • Among all MPOWER measures, the large graphic health warnings on cigarette packages have seen the most significant progress, with more countries adopting these warnings to inform and warn consumers about the risks of tobacco.
3. Effectiveness of Mass Media Campaigns:
   • India has taken aggressive steps to curb Tobacco Advertising, Promotion, and Sponsorship (TAPS) across all forms of media.
   • India became the first country to extend tobacco control regulations to digital streaming content, making a significant leap in addressing the impact of tobacco media exposure.
4. Taxation:
   • One of the least adopted MPOWER measures has been raising tobacco taxes. While India has made some progress in this area, the trend in per capita GDP required to buy cigarettes has actually decreased since 2014, meaning tobacco remains relatively affordable.
5. Tobacco-Related Deaths:
   • The tobacco epidemic is still responsible for over 7 million deaths annually, primarily from smoking-related diseases, underscoring the urgent need for stronger global and local interventions.

Tobacco Production: Global Context

1. Tobacco Species:
   • Tobacco belongs to the nightshade family and has over 60 species. The most commonly cultivated types are Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica (Aztec tobacco).
2. Climate and Soil Requirements:
   • Tobacco plants need a frost-free period of 90-120 days for optimal growth and prefer a mean daily temperature of 20-30°C.
   • Tobacco grows best in sandy or sandy loam soils, with well-drained conditions, and requires at least 500 mm of rainfall but cannot tolerate excessive moisture.
3. Tobacco Production in India:
   • India is the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of unmanufactured tobacco, after China and Brazil.
   • The major tobacco-producing states in India include Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Telangana, and Bihar.
   • Gujarat, in particular, accounts for 45% of the nation’s tobacco production, and the Tobacco Board of India, located in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh), ensures fair prices and facilitates the promotion of tobacco exports.

Global and India-Specific Measures to Tackle the Tobacco Epidemic

1. Global Actions:
   • WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC): Adopted in 2003, this international treaty has been ratified by over 180 countries, including India (since 2005). It mandates comprehensive tobacco control measures and policies.
   • 3 by 35 Initiative: WHO aims to increase tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drink prices by at least 50% by 2035 to curb consumption, with an emphasis on reducing affordability.
2. India-Specific Actions:
   • Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003: Prohibits smoking in public places, bans tobacco sales to minors, and mandates health warnings on packages.
   • Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2022: The rules mandate the use of graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging to highlight the harmful effects of tobacco use.
   • National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP): India’s national program aims to create awareness, reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, and reduce tobacco consumption.
   • Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019: India banned the sale, manufacture, and import of e-cigarettes, responding to growing concerns about the health risks of vaping.

Challenges

Tobacco Industry Resistance:

1. • Despite all the measures, the tobacco industry remains a powerful force, often using political lobbying, legal challenges, and misinformation to undermine tobacco control efforts.
   • Industry interference continues to be a significant challenge in many countries, including India, where the industry sometimes circumvents regulations to maintain market dominance.
2. Need for Increased Taxation:
   • One of the most effective measures to reduce tobacco consumption is to raise taxes on tobacco products. Despite some progress, tobacco remains affordable in many countries, including India, which hinders the potential impact of taxation.
3. Public Awareness:
   • Mass media campaigns have been proven to be an effective tool in reducing tobacco consumption. India’s stringent tobacco advertisement bans in traditional and digital media have played a crucial role in spreading awareness, but greater awareness is still needed in remote areas.
4. Monitoring and Enforcement:
   • Strengthening the monitoring systems to track tobacco use and tobacco control policy implementation will be crucial in understanding the effectiveness of interventions. Additionally, enforcement of existing laws is still a challenge in some regions, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Conclusion

To successfully address the global tobacco epidemic, a multi-faceted approach is necessary, combining policy, enforcement, public awareness, and international cooperation. Measures such as increased taxation, graphic health warnings, stronger public education, and tackling tobacco industry interference can lead to significant progress. India, with its growing tobacco control measures and public health campaigns, is playing an essential role in the global fight against tobacco-related diseases