World agencies: Using IQOS reduces exposure to harmful substances

Company Philip Morris International Inc. can inform its consumers that IQOS, a device that heats rather than burns tobacco, reduces users' exposure to harmful chemicals found in cigarettes, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Tuesday, as reported by Bloomberg.

The FDA said on Tuesday that scientific studies show that completely switching from cigarettes to the IQOS system "reduces the body's exposure to harmful and potentially harmful chemicals," which, according to Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, can help adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes. and reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, but only if they completely switch to these products".

This decision, as the Bloomberg agency points out, "gives IQOS an advantage over other alternatives, such as electronic cigarettes, in an attempt to dissuade smokers from cigarettes." Other manufacturers, as noted, cannot make such claims until they receive FDA approval.

The US Food and Drug Administration pointed out that this decision does not mean that IQOS is a risk-free product, but that it can be a "less harmful alternative for people who completely switch from cigarettes to it".

"With this decision, a process that lasted almost four years ended for Philip Morris. The company submitted a request to the FDA to classify this product as a “modified risk” product in December 2016,” the Bloomberg report concluded.

This decision by the FDA is reported by other leading world agencies, stating that IQOS is the first electronic product with nicotine, and the second tobacco product ever, which the FDA classified as a "modified risk product".

The Reuters agency states that the publication of this document is "expected to be beneficial for the health of the population" and adds that the Philip Morris company is now obliged to conduct surveillance and studies that will determine whether MRTP recommendations are being followed on the American market and whether it is coming to the use of this product by minors.

On the other hand, the respected American magazine "Politico" recalls that in April of last year, the FDA approved the commercialization of the device in the US, stating at that time that "it is being considered whether or not a specific product can help adult smokers to quit traditional cigarettes." This additional decision is, according to Politiko, a reversal that allows the Philip Morris company to inform consumers that IQOS is a modified risk product that significantly reduces the production of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals in traditional cigarettes.

IQOS is the first device that heats and does not burn tobacco that is authorized for sale in the USA, and the Philip Morris company sells this device in more than 50 countries in the world.