Dr Andy Asquith on LinkedIn: Jordan Williams on why the Taxpayers' Union went to Panama to debate vaping (2024)

Harm reduction is a principle incorporated into hard law through the FCTC. COP decisions cannot exceed the scope already outlined by the treaty and, importantly, should not be used as a means to facilitate national or supranational legislation with anti harm reduction measures with the excuse of a higher authority. The EU takes pride in the objectivity of its regulation. Nicotine should be no different. Reducing the harm caused by smoking, respecting adult smokers’ and adult vapers’ rights to make informed decisions about their health, keeping minors away from nicotine products and limiting environmental impacts are compatible objectives. An open conversation with industry players would provide an array of options that might not be thought of behind closed doors.

In the European Union, concerns are rising as some bureaucrats are reportedly attempting to bypass democratic norms in shaping anti-vaping policies. This raises questions about transparency, representation, and the role of elected officials in decision-making processes. The vaping industry and its consumers continue to closely watch how these regulatory developments unfold. #EU #VapingRegulations #DemocracyDebate

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ADVOCACY NEWS: On June 5, 2023, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau published a notice extending the comment period on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking related to alcohol trade practices to July 7, 2023. Read more in our regulatory alert and find out how to submit comments on the proposed rule >>> http://ow.ly/F2mx50OFVWp.#regulatoryupdate #TTB #ANPRM

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Quite clear what Saviano concludes: "The absence of serious reflection on drug addiction and consumption, of meaningful discussion on drug legalisation, leads exactly to what is happening in Mexico and Ecuador...We have two paths ahead of us: we either deal seriously with drug trafficking, or drug trafficking will continue, by military means, to occupy democracy – or what remains of it."Dealing seriously with drug trafficking has only two pathways: one, regulating drug markets. The second, if we keep it prohibited, is about following the money, an area in which we only recover a ridiculous 1% of benefits. And no country has generated a radical change of their war on drugs' structures & budgets, specialized on intercepting drugs, to specialization on financial investigation. No one wants to stop the flow of money, benefiting all of our financial centers. Additionally, we have not generated enough empathy to help the "ravaged countries" deal with risks to their democracy, institutions and communities, specially the most vulnerable ones. The only concern is to make believe that we can disturb the cocaine flow, without any worries about the dark destiny of people trapped between the crossfire of narcos and institutional repression.

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ANC incompetence, selfish loyalist deployment void of any merit in capabilities, the ANC'S need to be corrupt to enrich themselves, friends and family are the driving forces behind ANC load-shedding, and if it isn't they can easily prove it be releasing a line by line accounting of costs, alas the ANC doesn't tolerate transparency any more than it tolerates accountability.#stopvotingANC stop #Kleptocracy Stop the "irregularities" Looting 😡 Stop the African National Criminals 😔 #freeSouthAfricahttps://lnkd.in/dCV7fAQX

While I commend the attention given to issues such as the tobacco industry's influence (being a smoker myself), I am compelled to express my concern regarding the apparent lack of enthusiasm in the press for investigating and calling out similar and arguably more harmful interferences by other powerful sectors, notably the arms, alcohol, and banking industries.For instance, the arms industry, with its vast economic and political influence, plays a critical role in shaping defence and foreign policies in numerous countries. This sector's capacity to sway government decisions through lobbying, defence contracts, and political contributions is a matter of significant public interest and deserves rigorous scrutiny. Yet, the depth of coverage on this topic often seems superficial, lacking the investigative rigour that such a consequential subject demands. Similarly, the alcohol industry's impact on public health policies is a critical issue. Despite evidence suggesting that this industry lobbies against policies aimed at restricting alcohol sales, such as minimum pricing and advertising bans, there is a noticeable gap in persistent, in-depth reporting on these activities.The public's understanding of how these corporate actions affect health outcomes and societal costs is thus limited. The banking and financial sector's influence on economic policies and regulations is another area where more investigative reporting could be highly beneficial. The 2008 financial crisis laid bare the consequences of unchecked financial industry influence, yet the lessons seem short-lived. The press has a duty to continuously monitor and report on how this sector shapes financial regulations that affect the economy and the lives of millions. It has only been weeks since the cap on bankers bonuses designed to limit risk taking and greed has been abolished. Unbelievable!In all these cases, the common thread is the need for more investigative journalism that can uncover, analyse, and explain the complex ways in which these industries exert their influence. Such reporting is essential not only for informing the public but also for holding these powerful entities accountable. The press has the responsibility to shine a light on these issues, challenging the status quo and prompting public debate and policy reconsideration. And with that, ensuring our legislators are not industry lobbyists in disguise. In doing so, the press will fulfil its vital role in a democratic society, acting as a watchdog that ensures power is not only checked but also balanced in the interest of the public good.#publicinterest #PolicyTransparency #CorporateLobbying #economicpolicy #DefenceLobby #financialregulation #globalgovernance https://lnkd.in/egUwK65A

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Simply Sooperb initiative. More power to small enterprises and the co-operatives. If the Government can design corruption proof delivery, this can be a game changer for this target sector.https://lnkd.in/dcC4s8py

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim needs to focus on the people’s bread-and-butter issues and leave law enforcement to hunt down the corrupt, says political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk.More on Twentytwo13.#anwaribrahim #Malaysia #economy #news #media #Twentytwo13 #Twentytwo13news

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Safair's rise to prominence in the South African #aviation market is threatened by what appears to be regulatory bullying, with competitors invoking outdated ownership laws to hamper its success. This highlights the need for legal reforms that nurture economic growth instead of protectionism. #FlySafair #SouthAfrica #EconomicGrowthhttps://lnkd.in/drFdvbDU

In the coming weeks are going to see a lot about how civil servants are thwarting the Rwanda policy. Civil servants are legally required to follow the civil service code & the code requires them to act in accordance with the law- that includes International law. The FDA (trade union) judicial review is about a conflict between the civil service code & legislation. Ministers could have addressed this in the Rwanda bill but didn't. What the FDA union is doing is defending the integrity of the civil service and upholding the rule of law. Hopefully UK news shows will make this point clearly

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