PHILIP Morris (M) Sdn Bhd (PMM) would like to respond to theSun’s front-page report, “Smoke-less Smoking?” (Dec 14).
First, we would like to stress that our smoke-free products are intended to be better alternatives for adult smokers who can’t or don’t want to quit. In January, the US Food and Drug Administration Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee concluded that IQOS did not appeal to non-smokers and youths, given that it contained tobacco and has limited flavouring.
All the major tobacco companies in Malaysia are manufacturing and selling heat not burn and other smokeless products in Japan and Korea, and many other countries.
Secondly, Philip Morris International’s heat not burn product has been developed through years of research and is substantiated by robust science. Our research indicates that the heat not burn technology generates no combustion and therefore no smoke. As such, the aerosol released has significantly lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents than cigarette smoke.
Our findings are increasingly being supported by the likes of Public Health England who state in their 2018 report titled “E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products: evidence review”, that heated tobacco products are likely to reduce users’ and bystanders’ exposure to harmful compounds compared to cigarettes.
Similar conclusions have also been made by independent and respected institutions including the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.
Thirdly, contrary to the assertion of the news report, PMM has obtained all the required regulatory approvals by the relevant Malaysian government authorities prior to the commercial launch of IQOS in Malaysia.
PMM strongly supports the Ministry of Health’s objective of protecting public health. In line with our smoke free vision, we welcome a robust debate on harm reduction based on the facts and scientific evidence.
Sekar Menon
Director of External Affairs
Philip Morris (M) Sdn Bhd
