Proportional Taxation Call from CAPHRA
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates has called for risk-proportionate taxation on safer nicotine products across the Asia Pacific region
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by Dave Cross
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The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has released a position paper urging governments across the Asia Pacific region to adopt risk-proportionate taxation for safer nicotine products. The paper warns that current tax regimes, often imported from Western models, are failing Asia Pacific’s unique needs and are undermining tobacco harm reduction.
“High taxes on safer nicotine products, set at the same level as cigarettes, simply protect the cigarette trade while punishing adults trying to make healthier choices,” said Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA. “Public health policy must empower informed choices, not restrict them through fear and financial barriers.”
CAPHRA’s paper highlights that in many Asia Pacific countries, safer nicotine products are either banned or taxed at punitive rates, making them inaccessible for those who need them most. This approach, often driven by international pressure and revenue priorities, fuels black markets and undermines public trust.
The Philippines is cited as a key example. Despite passing the Vape Law in 2022 to regulate and tax vape products for public health benefit, recent government statements have contradicted the law’s aims and risk undermining critical funding for health programmes.
Countries like Japan, the Philippines, and New Zealand, which have introduced risk-proportionate regulation and taxation, have seen marked declines in smoking rates. CAPHRA calls on governments to follow this evidence, rather than impose one-size-fits-all policies that ignore local realities.
“As future health crises loom, prioritising revenue over people’s well-being is short-sighted and dangerous,” said Loucas. “Governments must align tax policies with science, evidence, and the right to make informed health decisions.”
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations.
The advocacy organisation says it is not related to or funded by any commercial interests. It adds that it is composed solely of volunteer consumer advocates from the Asia Pacific Region.
“We hope putting forward this information would clarify any doubt as to our interests and intentions,” states the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates. “CAPHRA stays committed to its mission to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use. We advocate for the rights of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region to access and use evidence-based, regulated, and properly marketed harm reduction products as a means of reducing the devastating impact of smoking-related diseases.”
References:
- To access the full position paper: https://bit.ly/3YWLGwm
- The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates - https://caphraorg.net/
Photo Credit:
Photo by Road Ahead on Unsplash
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
