WHO Drafted Global Tobacco Taxation Proposal
The WHO Regional Committee has proposed new taxes and bans to curb nicotine use across the Western Pacific.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Asthma
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The WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific has introduced a draft proposal in Manila aimed at accelerating regional tobacco control. The plan recommends aggressive price increases on tobacco and nicotine products alongside potential bans on e-cigarettes and pouches.
Why it matters
The proposal seeks to address the 3 million annual deaths linked to tobacco in the Western Pacific by pushing member nations closer to a collective 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2030.
WHO analysis shows 8 out of 26 countries are currently on track to hit the 30% tobacco reduction target by 2030. Notable projections include a 51% reduction in New Zealand, 33.2% in Japan, 32.6% in Korea, and 28.9% in the Philippines.
The players
WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific
This is a governing body that coordinates health policy and disease prevention initiatives across the Western Pacific region.
The details
The draft plan, designated WPR/RC77/9, advocates for extending Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to encompass non-tobacco nicotine products. The initiative emphasizes strict market regulation or outright prohibition of heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes.
Timeline
The seventy-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee was held in October 2026.
The target year for achieving the 30% regional reduction in tobacco use is 2030.
Health Landscape
The proposal marks a shift in regional health policy by applying the regulatory logic of Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to non-tobacco nicotine products. This approach updates the standard framework to account for the evolution of nicotine delivery systems beyond traditional combustible cigarettes.
Consumers of nicotine products may face significant price hikes and reduced access if their local governments adopt these WHO recommendations. The shift aims to lower long-term rates of tobacco-related respiratory and systemic diseases across the general population.
The takeaway
The move by the WHO committee indicates a widening of scope for tobacco control efforts to include newer nicotine alternatives. Residents in the Western Pacific region should anticipate tighter regulatory oversight as countries strive to reach 2030 health targets.
Further reading
Learn more about respiratory health at Asthma.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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