Rebuff ‘grant for policy’ schemes, countries urged

Low- and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region should rebuff so-called “grant for policy” schemes employed by interest groups that would deprive smokers of safer alternatives, a group of tobacco harm reduction advocates said.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (Caphra) issued the warning after officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were summoned in Congress over reports that the agency received assistance from Bloomberg-funded organizations that dictate their own policies on tobacco control.