Conservative Peer Suggests Postponement of Heated Tobacco Ban Following Meeting with Philip Morris | Tobacco Sector

A Conservative peer has proposed postponing the UK’s planned ban on heated tobacco, shortly after visiting a research facility of a major cigarette company in Switzerland, which covered his travel expenses. The tobacco and vapes bill intends to progressively raise the minimum purchasing age for cigarettes and tobacco products, aiming to eventually phase out tobacco use in the UK. However, this timing could be affected by Lord Vaizey’s suggestion that more research is needed to assess the relative harm of heated tobacco compared to traditional cigarettes. Vaizey’s proposal aligns with a legal challenge brought by Philip Morris International, the leading manufacturer of heated tobacco products, which was later withdrawn following a government response. Experts argue that comparing heated tobacco products with traditional cigarettes, rather than with not smoking at all, is a tactic commonly employed by the tobacco industry to undermine health measures.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/01/tory-peer-delay-tobacco-ban-philip-morris-visit-lord-vaizey