UserWiki:Richardpruen: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Letter Steve Barclay 19th oct.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: ‘Ton of bricks’ regulation of vaping and flavours Dear Steve Barclay, I am a consumer advocate, with no ties to industry at present (for full details see my previous letter). I await your reply to my last letter on 6th July, with the requested information, including reasoning for not including representatives of consumers in the enquiry. I would also like to know if the MPs where briefed on vaping or the vaping industry, if so by whom? The point itself is brief, two short paragraphs. After your comments on regulations, I would like to draw your attention to the following peer reviewed paper https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/20/6936 this strongly suggests that young people are being diverted from smoking, vaping is at least 95% safer than them smoking, thus while not ideal vaping reduces harm. Dependence to nicotine is also not ideal, but only 0.5% youth regularly use vapes who did not first smoke. Meanwhile you risk stopping millions of adult smokers switching to vapes by eliminating flavours, these are an important thing for adults. Please read this from Clive Bates (ex ASH Director) https://clivebates.com/documents/FlavoursBriefingV1July2022.pdf. You should of course ban candyfloss and sweet flavoured alcohol, as such flavours are aimed only at children? One last point Vaping is already illegal for children, if the existing rules cannot be enforced, then further legislation will presumably not be enforced either, how would that help? Yours sincerely, Richard Pruen|Letter Steve Barclay 19th oct]]

[[File:Letter to cop 10 repersentitives.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: COP 10 WHO FCTC Dear Rosanna O’Connor, I am a consumer advocate for vaping, and do not use disposables beyond experimenting to see what they are like. I am also an engineer. I have worked in the vaping industry previously testing compliance with the standards for vaping products, and owned a now closed company BTC Battery Testing LTD (closed 2016). Currently I care for my mother who suffers vascular dementia, and as such volunteer my spare time to the cause of Tobacco Harm Reduction. I believe that consumers should be present at the COP 10 meeting, it is consumers who have the most to gain from stopping the use of combustible tobacco, and the lived experience of trying to do so. Many millions have found a way to eliminate almost all the risk via THR products. The phrase ‘Nothing about us without us’ springs to mind. Why then are the public and press excluded. I would like to see the proceedings live streamed, so those effected can see what is being done. In no way could this effect the discussions, thus is reasonable transparency. I would like an answer regarding the possibility, please. Many countries already found harm reduction useful, critical even. Be that low risk Snus (Sweden has the lowest cancer rate in Europe, and will be smoking free this year (>5%)). Vaping that the UK NHS finds almost 66% effective with support, as stated on their website. New Zealand has seen similar results, especially in native populations, reducing disparities. Japan has seen huge drops in cigarette sales due to reduced harm heated tobacco products. Please see the letter from the Lancet from Robert Beaglehole and Ruth Bonita. They were both senior officials at WHO and are now at the University of Auckland. Robert was formerly Director of the Department of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion at WHO. Ruth was formerly the Director of Surveillance in the Noncommunicable Disease Cluster at WHO. I wish to add my support for their recommendations, the article is attached (also link here https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00140-5) please make sure these points are discussed at the COP 10 meeting. Yours sincerely, Richard Pruen P.S Please ensure the representatives listed on the next page can discuss before the metting and forward more widely if you agree with the sentiment. Katherine Sands Tobacco Control Team Leader Department for Health and Social Care Martin Dockrell Tobacco Control Programme Lead Department for Health and Social Care Alison Walker Senior Tobacco Control Policy Lead Department of Health and Social Care Esther Lawrence Deputy Head of Global Health UK Mission to the UN, Geneva Please find attached a letter from [THELANCET-D-24-00371] S0140-6736(24)00140-5|Letter to cop 10 ~~repersentitives~~]]

[[File:Letter to cop 10 repersentitives.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: COP 10 WHO FCTC Dear Rosanna O’Connor, I am a consumer advocate for vaping, and do not use disposables beyond experimenting to see what they are like. I am also an engineer. I have worked in the vaping industry previously testing compliance with the standards for vaping products, and owned a now closed company BTC Battery Testing LTD (closed 2016). Currently I care for my mother who suffers vascular dementia, and as such volunteer my spare time to the cause of Tobacco Harm Reduction. I believe that consumers should be present at the COP 10 meeting, it is consumers who have the most to gain from stopping the use of combustible tobacco, and the lived experience of trying to do so. Many millions have found a way to eliminate almost all the risk via THR products. The phrase ‘Nothing about us without us’ springs to mind. Why then are the public and press excluded. I would like to see the proceedings live streamed, so those effected can see what is being done. In no way could this effect the discussions, thus is reasonable transparency. I would like an answer regarding the possibility, please. Many countries already found harm reduction useful, critical even. Be that low risk Snus (Sweden has the lowest cancer rate in Europe, and will be smoking free this year (>5%)). Vaping that the UK NHS finds almost 66% effective with support, as stated on their website. New Zealand has seen similar results, especially in native populations, reducing disparities. Japan has seen huge drops in cigarette sales due to reduced harm heated tobacco products. Please see the letter from the Lancet from Robert Beaglehole and Ruth Bonita. They were both senior officials at WHO and are now at the University of Auckland. Robert was formerly Director of the Department of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion at WHO. Ruth was formerly the Director of Surveillance in the Noncommunicable Disease Cluster at WHO. I wish to add my support for their recommendations, the article is attached (also link here https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00140-5) please make sure these points are discussed at the COP 10 meeting. Yours sincerely, Richard Pruen P.S Please ensure the representatives listed on the next page can discuss before the metting and forward more widely if you agree with the sentiment. Katherine Sands Tobacco Control Team Leader Department for Health and Social Care Martin Dockrell Tobacco Control Programme Lead Department for Health and Social Care Alison Walker Senior Tobacco Control Policy Lead Department of Health and Social Care Esther Lawrence Deputy Head of Global Health UK Mission to the UN, Geneva Please find attached a letter from [THELANCET-D-24-00371] S0140-6736(24)00140-5|Letter to cop 10 representatives]]

[[File:Letter PM 16th Feb 2024-draft.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: The ban on disposable cigarettes Dear Prime Minister, I am a consumer advocate for vaping (15 years and vaper for 16), and do not use disposables beyond experimenting to see what they are like. I am also an engineer. I have worked in the vaping industry previously testing against the standards for vaping products, and owned a now closed company BTC Battery Testing LTD (closed 2016). Currently I care for my mother who suffers vascular dementia, and as such volunteer my spare time to the cause of THR. Regarding the subject. Might I remind you that Australia has already taken this path, over 50 fire bombings, at least 3 gang style murders, and a rampant illegal trade has resulted. I am aware you have children, and they are potentially at the age to start experimenting with adult products. The prohibitionist faction may have played on this, and convinced you that a ban is enforceable, sadly if Australia cannot do it, the proximity of Europe means less chance here. This is simply being realistic. The best, perhaps only, way to control the illicit trade to to make sure there is a legal trade that makes it less profitable,the US abandoned alcohol prohibition in favour of this. Please however remain focused on preventing harm, having the only source of disposable vapes (sorry to say this but it is true) that your children could possibly buy, being from a ‘dealer’ who might supply other illicit substances, that is not safer! At least if they are from a shop selling tested, safe devices, then that is a huge reduction in harm already, avoiding interaction with drug dealers. I would prefer the shop followed the law, but as we know not everyone will. Your children might also sample smoking, especially if they sensibly avoid illicit substance dealers, this too is not exactly a win, smoking being deadly and carcinogenic. You are not the only one being pressured, please see the tweet linked here: https://x.com/ASHNZ2025/status/1757930273751363892?s=20 “Disappointing that @HealthCoA lump ASH in with tobacco industry in an OIA request rather than ask us. Is a smear campaign coming our way? On the record ASH has no $$ or COI with tobacco, vape, alcohol, gambling, pharmaceutical, retail, food, or billionaire philanthropist” <a letter from the NZ government is attached to the tweet> I apologise for the somewhat robust and direct letter, but I feel you are about to make a huge mistake. I would regret it on behalf of current cigarette smokers, some of whom will die, and those who return to smoking because they use a banned product, some of those too will die. Meanwhile it will not help your children, or anyone else's to drive all sales to illicit/criminal markets. Please see the attached graph, so far regular use is not high and may be displacing cigarettes, sensible regulations to keep it that way, those would be welcome. A few truths to bear in mind: Infrequent trial use isn’t the best indicator of dependence, vaping doesn’t kill children nor is it likely ever to do so, smoking cigarettes does kill adults, reasonable regulation results in overall lowest harm. I would like to hear your thoughts, I will be happy to provide evidence to support what I have said, if required for any point please let me know. Thank you for your time, and please do not take this lightly! Yours sincerely, Richard Pruen |Letter PM 16th Feb 2024-draft]]

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 [[File:Letter Steve Barclay 19th oct.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: ‘Ton of bricks’ regulation of vaping and flavours   Dear Steve Barclay,  I am a consumer advocate, with no ties to industry at present (for full details see my previous letter).  I await your reply to my last letter on 6th July, with the requested information, including reasoning for not including representatives of consumers in the enquiry. I would also like to know if the MPs where briefed on vaping or the vaping industry, if so by whom?  The point itself is brief, two short paragraphs.  After your comments on regulations, I would like to draw your attention to the following peer reviewed paper https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/20/6936 this strongly suggests that young people are being diverted from smoking, vaping is at least 95% safer than them smoking, thus while not ideal vaping reduces harm. Dependence to nicotine is also not ideal, but only 0.5% youth regularly use vapes who did not first smoke. Meanwhile you risk stopping millions of adult smokers switching to vapes by eliminating flavours, these are an important thing for adults. Please read this from Clive Bates (ex ASH Director) https://clivebates.com/documents/FlavoursBriefingV1July2022.pdf. You should of course ban candyfloss and sweet flavoured alcohol, as such flavours are aimed only at children?   One last point Vaping is already illegal for children, if the existing rules cannot be enforced, then further legislation will presumably not be enforced either, how would that help?   Yours sincerely,     Richard Pruen|Letter Steve Barclay 19th oct]]
-[[File:Letter to cop 10 repersentitives.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: COP 10 WHO FCTC    Dear Rosanna O’Connor,  I am a consumer advocate for vaping, and do not use disposables beyond experimenting to see what they are like. I am also an engineer. I have worked in the vaping industry previously testing compliance with the standards for vaping products, and owned a now closed company BTC Battery Testing LTD (closed 2016). Currently I care for my mother who suffers vascular dementia, and as such volunteer my spare time to the cause of Tobacco Harm Reduction.  I believe that consumers should be present at the COP 10 meeting, it is consumers who have the most to gain from stopping the use of combustible tobacco, and the lived experience of trying to do so. Many millions have found a way to eliminate almost all the risk via THR products. The phrase ‘Nothing about us without us’ springs to mind. Why then are the public and press excluded. I would like to see the proceedings live streamed, so those effected can see what is being done. In no way could this effect the discussions, thus is reasonable transparency. I would like an answer regarding the possibility, please.   Many countries already found harm reduction useful, critical even. Be that low risk Snus (Sweden has the lowest cancer rate in Europe, and will be smoking free this year (>5%)). Vaping that the UK NHS finds almost 66% effective with support, as stated on their website. New Zealand has seen similar results, especially in native populations, reducing disparities. Japan has seen huge drops in cigarette sales due to reduced harm heated tobacco products.  Please see the letter from the Lancet from Robert Beaglehole and Ruth Bonita. They were both senior officials at WHO and are now at the University of Auckland. Robert was formerly Director of the Department of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion at WHO. Ruth was formerly the Director of Surveillance in the Noncommunicable Disease Cluster at WHO.  I wish to add my support for their recommendations, the article is attached (also link here https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00140-5) please make sure these points are discussed at the COP 10 meeting.   Yours sincerely,     Richard Pruen  P.S Please ensure the representatives listed on the next page can discuss before the metting and forward more widely if you agree with the sentiment.   Katherine Sands Tobacco Control Team Leader Department for Health and Social Care  Martin Dockrell Tobacco Control Programme Lead Department for Health and Social Care  Alison Walker Senior Tobacco Control Policy Lead Department of Health and Social Care  Esther Lawrence Deputy Head of Global Health UK Mission to the UN, Geneva  Please find attached a letter from   [THELANCET-D-24-00371] S0140-6736(24)00140-5|Letter to cop 10 repersentitives]]
+[[File:Letter to cop 10 repersentitives.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: COP 10 WHO FCTC    Dear Rosanna O’Connor,  I am a consumer advocate for vaping, and do not use disposables beyond experimenting to see what they are like. I am also an engineer. I have worked in the vaping industry previously testing compliance with the standards for vaping products, and owned a now closed company BTC Battery Testing LTD (closed 2016). Currently I care for my mother who suffers vascular dementia, and as such volunteer my spare time to the cause of Tobacco Harm Reduction.  I believe that consumers should be present at the COP 10 meeting, it is consumers who have the most to gain from stopping the use of combustible tobacco, and the lived experience of trying to do so. Many millions have found a way to eliminate almost all the risk via THR products. The phrase ‘Nothing about us without us’ springs to mind. Why then are the public and press excluded. I would like to see the proceedings live streamed, so those effected can see what is being done. In no way could this effect the discussions, thus is reasonable transparency. I would like an answer regarding the possibility, please.   Many countries already found harm reduction useful, critical even. Be that low risk Snus (Sweden has the lowest cancer rate in Europe, and will be smoking free this year (>5%)). Vaping that the UK NHS finds almost 66% effective with support, as stated on their website. New Zealand has seen similar results, especially in native populations, reducing disparities. Japan has seen huge drops in cigarette sales due to reduced harm heated tobacco products.  Please see the letter from the Lancet from Robert Beaglehole and Ruth Bonita. They were both senior officials at WHO and are now at the University of Auckland. Robert was formerly Director of the Department of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion at WHO. Ruth was formerly the Director of Surveillance in the Noncommunicable Disease Cluster at WHO.  I wish to add my support for their recommendations, the article is attached (also link here https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00140-5) please make sure these points are discussed at the COP 10 meeting.   Yours sincerely,     Richard Pruen  P.S Please ensure the representatives listed on the next page can discuss before the metting and forward more widely if you agree with the sentiment.   Katherine Sands Tobacco Control Team Leader Department for Health and Social Care  Martin Dockrell Tobacco Control Programme Lead Department for Health and Social Care  Alison Walker Senior Tobacco Control Policy Lead Department of Health and Social Care  Esther Lawrence Deputy Head of Global Health UK Mission to the UN, Geneva  Please find attached a letter from   [THELANCET-D-24-00371] S0140-6736(24)00140-5|Letter to cop 10 representatives]]
+[[File:Letter PM 16th Feb 2024-draft.pdf|thumb|alt=Subject: The ban on disposable cigarettes   Dear Prime Minister,  I am a consumer advocate for vaping (15 years and vaper for 16), and do not use disposables beyond experimenting to see what they are like. I am also an engineer. I have worked in the vaping industry previously testing against the standards for vaping products, and owned a now closed company BTC Battery Testing LTD (closed 2016). Currently I care for my mother who suffers vascular dementia, and as such volunteer my spare time to the cause of THR.  Regarding the subject. Might I remind you that Australia has already taken this path, over 50 fire bombings, at least 3 gang style murders, and a rampant illegal trade has resulted.  I am aware you have children, and they are potentially at the age to start experimenting with adult products. The prohibitionist faction may have played on this, and convinced you that a ban is enforceable, sadly if Australia cannot do it, the proximity of Europe means less chance here.  This is simply being realistic. The best, perhaps only, way to control the illicit trade to to make sure there is a legal trade that makes it less profitable,the US abandoned alcohol prohibition in favour of this.    Please however remain focused on preventing harm, having the only source of disposable vapes (sorry to say this but it is true) that your children could possibly buy, being from a ‘dealer’ who might supply other illicit substances, that is not safer! At least if they are from a shop selling tested, safe devices, then that is a huge reduction in harm already, avoiding interaction with drug dealers. I would prefer the shop followed the law, but as we know not everyone will. Your children might also sample smoking, especially if they sensibly avoid illicit substance dealers, this too is not exactly a win, smoking being deadly and carcinogenic.   You are not the only one being pressured, please see the tweet linked here:  https://x.com/ASHNZ2025/status/1757930273751363892?s=20  “Disappointing that @HealthCoA lump ASH in with tobacco industry in an OIA request rather than ask us. Is a smear campaign coming our way? On the record ASH has no $$ or COI with tobacco, vape, alcohol, gambling, pharmaceutical, retail, food, or billionaire philanthropist” <a letter from the NZ government is attached to the tweet>  I apologise for the somewhat robust and direct letter, but I feel you are about to make a huge mistake. I would regret it on behalf of current cigarette smokers, some of whom will die, and those who return to smoking because they use a banned product, some of those too will die. Meanwhile it will not help your children, or anyone else's to drive all sales to illicit/criminal markets.  Please see the attached graph, so far regular use is not high and may be displacing cigarettes, sensible regulations to keep it that way, those would be welcome.  A few truths to bear in mind:   Infrequent trial use isn’t the best indicator of dependence, vaping doesn’t kill children nor is it likely ever to do so, smoking cigarettes does kill adults, reasonable regulation results in overall lowest harm.    I would like to hear your thoughts, I will be happy to provide evidence to support what I have said, if required for any point please let me know.  Thank you for your time, and please do not take this lightly!  Yours sincerely,  Richard Pruen |Letter PM 16th Feb 2024-draft]]

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