Two people discussing around a small table

Shaping public health through policy and partnerships

Despite decades of work by the public health community to persuade people to avoid or stop smoking cigarettes, there are an estimated 30 million cigarette smokers in the U.S. To decrease that number faster, policy change is needed.

PMI U.S. is committed to being part of that change. We’re providing science-based, smoke-free alternatives authorized by the FDA for adults 21+ who would otherwise smoke. These better choices align with our policy priorities and promise to improve public health by working to eliminate smoked tobacco products.

U.S. Chief External Affairs Officer

Keagan Lenihan

We believe people who smoke deserve a range of FDA-authorized smoke-free products that are satisfying, available, and affordable. That means we need a regulated market for these products, accurate information for the public, and a continued focus on ensuring adults aged 21 and older have access to better alternatives.

We work with U.S. policymakers to drive change that will give legal-age nicotine consumers a better alternative to continued cigarette use.

We focus on these policy priorities:

A robust marketplace of authorized smoke-free products

Adult nicotine consumers have different preferences. Policymakers at the federal and state levels, including the FDA, need to find a balance between regulation and providing legal-age smokers who don’t quit with an incentive to switch to products that are a better choice.

Cigarettes continue to dominate the U.S. market. Policymakers, particularly the FDA, need to embrace a strategy that prioritizes the review of innovative alternatives and helps make FDA-authorized smoke-free products available to adults who would otherwise smoke.

Harm reduction - better choices
for smokers

What do we mean by harm reduction?

Harm reduction is a principle you probably implement every day. If you use sunscreen, you’re practicing harm reduction. If you wear a seatbelt in a car, you’re practicing harm reduction. If you wear a helmet while riding a bike, you’re practicing harm reduction. That same principle can be applied by adults who currently smoke.

FDA-authorized smoke-free products can help adults 21+ switch from cigarettes to better alternatives. Public health authorities agree that nicotine products fall on a continuum of risk. On that continuum, cigarettes, as the most harmful products, sit at the top, while products that do not combust and are smoke-free are much lower.

Informed decision making
for adults 21+

Nicotine is addictive and not risk-free, but public health authorities have recognized that it is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. The harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke, produced by burning tobacco, are the main cause of these diseases.

Most Americans, including healthcare providers, don’t understand that science-based, smoke-free alternatives have the potential to pose less risk than smoking. That makes adults who smoke less likely to switch—and threatens public health.

The FDA, public health officials, and policymakers have an opportunity to advance a major public health breakthrough. Educating the public to correct misperceptions about nicotine and teaching people about smoke-free products can make everyone aware of better alternatives to smoking.

Risk-based
taxation

Taxes on nicotine products should reflect the relative risk of such products. For example, cigarettes, which are the most harmful form of nicotine consumption, should be subject to the highest taxes.

Tax policies should encourage adults 21+ who smoke to switch to FDA-authorized smoke-free products. Taxes on FDA-authorized products should differ from cigarette taxes to reflect their potential to protect and promote public health. The goal of tax policy should be to encourage complete switching by helping make FDA-authorized smoke-free products more affordable than cigarettes for adults 21+ who smoke.

23rd Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, former member of Congress, and advisor to PMI U.S. Corporate Services Inc.

Tom Price, M.D.

We need to take a realistic approach that embraces the truth about tobacco harm reduction. The majority of regulators and even healthcare providers believe nicotine is a carcinogen—it isn’t. If folks quit burning tobacco and inhaling it, and use better products for nicotine satisfaction, they’ll be moving in the right direction and have a better health status.

USA-IT

We founded United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) in 2021 to combat black-market trade. USA-IT is a coalition of more than 100 national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement, leading industry associations, and civic organizations. It provides training programs and information to help law enforcement, local officials, and the public tackle all forms of illegal trade. Click here to learn more.