PMI exec sees momentum in Philippine smoke-free market
Philip Morris International is seeing growing traction for its smoke-free products in the Philippines, including IQOS heated tobacco products and ZYN nicotine pouches, a company executive said.
Philip Morris International (PMI) is witnessing growing popularity for its smoke-free products in the Philippines, yet acknowledges the need to expedite the transition away from traditional cigarettes. Tommaso di Giovanni, PMI's vice president for communications and engagement, noted the momentum surrounding IQOS heated tobacco products and ZYN nicotine pouches in the Philippine market, where approximately 14 million individuals still smoke.
PMI's smoke-free options in the nation encompass IQOS devices, HEETS and TEREA heated tobacco sticks, the more budget-friendly BONDS device, BLENDS consumables, and ZYN oral nicotine pouches.
Di Giovanni highlighted the existence of positive legislation in the Philippines concerning smoke-free products, but stressed that consumers require clearer information about the disparities between conventional cigarettes and alternatives. He emphasized the importance of providing Filipinos with a comprehensive understanding of how cigarettes differ from e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine pouches to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
According to di Giovanni, burning tobacco generates substantial amounts of harmful substances, while smoke-free alternatives do not involve the same combustion process. PMI claims that some smoke-free products generate 90% to 95% fewer harmful compounds than traditional cigarettes, contingent on the specific product. While acknowledging that these alternatives are not entirely risk-free, di Giovanni emphasized that they are significantly better than cigarettes.
PMI's primary objective is to encourage smokers to abandon traditional cigarettes by making alternative nicotine products accessible. Despite acknowledging nicotine's addictive nature, di Giovanni asserted that it is not the main cause of smoking-related diseases. He stressed that the true battle is to get people off cigarettes and that switching to smoke-free alternatives is another viable option.
The summit convened policy experts, scientists, health professionals, and industry leaders to delve into tobacco harm reduction, product innovation, consumer education, and regulation.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
