Philip Morris International is supporting the formation of a congressional caucus devoted to promoting tobacco harm reduction (PMI). Informal gatherings known as congressional caucuses are used to seek shared legislative objectives.
Politico revealed the caucus's existence earlier this week, stating that PMI had employed lobbyists in January to "lobby on tobacco harm reduction, FDA oversight and the creation of a harm reduction caucus." The lobbyists are former staff members of Congress who have experience with health-related problems; one of them also served at the Department of Health and Human Services.
North Carolina Democrat Don Davis and Pennsylvania Republican Representative Guy Reschenthaler will co-chair the caucus, according to a report from STAT News yesterday. In the House under Republican rule, Reschenthaler is the chief deputy whip serving his third term. Davis is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a member of the House for the first time.
What can a tobacco harm reduction committee accomplish?
According to a letter to potential members cited in the STAT article, the caucus will "provide a forum to discuss all aspects of this public health debate, ranging from underage youth use prevention, risk-based taxation, methods to improve the public’s understanding of less harmful alternative products, and the regulatory processes governing these products."
The goal of tobacco harm reduction, or THR for short, is to lower the dangers associated with tobacco use by enticing smokers to convert to less dangerous non-combustible forms of tobacco or nicotine. Vapes, nicotine pouches, smokeless tobacco, and heated tobacco products (HTPs) are a few examples of THR products. Neither the word nor the concept of THR originated with the tobacco industry.
In recent years, Congress has debated and voted on a number of laws pertaining to vaping, nicotine, and tobacco use—mostly without the meaningful participation of pro-THR advocates. Furthermore, although PMI may have been the impetus for the caucus' creation, other players in the vaping market as well as vapers themselves may wish to get involved and have an impact on the conversation.
A caucus devoted to defending the interests of vape and nicotine users and the business might be a useful weapon in challenging the prevailing legislative stance, which has been molded by anti-vaping and anti-tobacco organizations like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and its allies. These organizations have invested millions of dollars to sway opinion and advance policies that favor prohibition.
Gregory Conley, legislative and external relations director of the American Vapor Manufacturers Association (AVM), told Vaping360 that "the THR caucus is a positive step and we look forward to seeing it grow." "Small business owners and adult vapers should get in touch with their congressional representative and let them know why it is so important that they think about joining."
In the US, PMI is smoke-free at all times.
Philip Morris International's lobbying efforts are timed to coincide with the company's arrival in the US market, where it will not be selling combustible tobacco products. Despite having the same name, Philip Morris USA, the Altria Group entity that distributes Marlboro cigarettes in the US, is no longer affiliated with PMI. 2008 saw the separation of PMI from the old Philip Morris business, which was subsequently renamed Altria. (PMI does export cigarettes from the United States.)
Last November, PMI paid $16 billion to acquire Swedish Match, a manufacturer, which allowed it to quickly establish a significant presence in the low-risk nicotine market in the United States. Swedish Match offers General snus and ZYN nicotine pouches, which top the US market. After repurchasing the American licensing rights, PMI also intends to launch their heated tobacco product, IQOS, in the United States early the following year.
When the FDA awarded eight General-brand snus variations the modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) category in 2019, Swedish Match became the first firm with goods to acquire this designation. The second MRTP was awarded to PMI's HTP product, IQOS, and IQOS Heatstick refills in 2020.
The IQOS VEEV vaping product, which PMI sells in Europe, is not available for purchase in the United States without first getting FDA authorization via the premarket tobacco application (PMTA) procedure. According to a January report, PMI was one of the tobacco corporations thinking about acquiring Juul Labs or forming a partnership with them.
Famous proponents of the vaping business Paul Blair (previously of Turning Point Brands) and Amanda Wheeler (Jvapes and the American Vapor Manufacturers Association) were brought on by PMI earlier this year as it increased its footprint in the US government affairs sector.
PMI's main office is located in Stamford, Connecticut.
