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| Experts and participants of the Asia Forum on Nicotine 2026 gather during Day 2 of the forum, following discussions on nicotine, tobacco harm reduction, and public health. The gathering brought together international experts and stakeholders to exchange perspectives and advance dialogue on research, policy, and evidence-informed approaches to tobacco harm reduction. |
The Asia Forum on Nicotine (AFN) 2026 opened today at the Astoria Hotel, Ortigas, with a clear call for wider adoption of evidence‑based tobacco harm reduction (THR) policies and improved access to safer nicotine alternatives throughout the Asia‑Pacific region.
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| Day 1 of the Asia Forum for Nicotine (AFN 2026) featured an engaging panel discussion, with speakers sharing their perspectives and insights on key issues surrounding nicotine, tobacco harm reduction, and public health. |
A core highlight of Day 1 was the introduction of the Asia Pacific Declaration, a formal appeal to health ministers and public health authorities across the WHO South‑East Asia and Western Pacific regions to legalise safer nicotine alternatives for adult smokers. The Declaration underscores the severe health risks of combustible cigarettes and high‑risk oral tobacco products, advocates for regulation aligned with relative risk, and calls for:
- Regulated access to lower‑risk nicotine options for adults
- Strict safeguards to prevent youth access, including age‑of‑sale enforcement and marketing controls
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| The session, “Collaboration – Consumer, Policy, Research, Law Enforcement and Medicine,” explored how stakeholders across the tobacco harm reduction ecosystem can work together to advance evidence-based policies and strengthen cross-sector collaboration across the region. Moderated by Professor Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, the panel featured Professor Tikki Pangestu, Dr. Lorenzo Mata, Clarisse Virgino Adriatico, and Ariel F. Nepomuceno. Discussions also contributed to the commitments and next steps outlined in the Asia Pacific Declaration. |
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Day 1 of the Asia Forum for Nicotine (AFN 2026) brought together experts and advocates from across the globe to discuss key issues surrounding nicotine, tobacco harm reduction, and public health.
Group photo of AFN speakers and participants
Front row (left to right): Prof. Jay Jazul, Ms. Clarissa Adriatico, Ms. Nancy Loucas, Professor Marewa Glover, Professor Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Professor Young-Bum Park, and Ron Christian Sison.
Back row (left to right): Dr. Lorenzo Mata, Gabriel Oke, Professor Dr. Rohan Savio Sequeira, Asa Saligupta, Mr. Jaggi Sarangapani, Professor Tikki Pangestu, and Dr. Alex Wodak.
The forum continues to provide a platform for meaningful discussions, knowledge-sharing, and evidence-informed conversations on nicotine and public health. |
Organized by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), in partnership with the Harm Reduction Alliance of the Philippines (HARAP), The Vapers Philippines, and the Malaysia Society for Harm Reduction, AFN 2026 gathered 19 experts spanning 12 countries: Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Delegates included clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and consumer advocates, who presented regional data, real‑world case studies, and lived experience to shape the global THR conversation.
In his opening keynote address “The State of THR in Asia‑Pacific, Middle East and Africa”, Professor Tikki Pangestu (Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore) mapped the fast‑shifting policy landscape across the region and beyond, contrasting progressive, evidence‑led approaches with ongoing prohibitionist policies.
The Declaration was formally presented during the closing plenary by Pangestu and CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas, drawing together scientific, clinical, and community insights from the day’s discussions. It is designed as an actionable advocacy resource for delegates to present to WHO regional offices ahead of COP12, the 12th Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
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| The Asia Forum on Nicotine 2026 held its Day 2 press conference, bringing together experts and public health representatives to discuss key developments and perspectives on nicotine, tobacco harm reduction, and related policy issues. |
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| Experts and representatives participate in the Day 2 press conference of the Asia Forum on Nicotine 2026, addressing key issues in tobacco harm reduction, research, and public policy. The discussion underscored the importance of evidence-informed dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders across the region. |
“Asia has millions of adult smokers, but most of the region bans the products that could help them quit," said Loucas. "At AFN 2026, we're asking what the evidence actually says, and why so many governments refuse to listen.”
Building on its fully virtual launch in 2025, AFN 2026 marks a major milestone as the forum’s first hybrid edition: 60 on‑site delegates in Manila joined a global audience watching the free live stream via the CAPHRA YouTube channel, broadening access to critical discussions on harm reduction.
Full details, speaker profiles, and updates are available at https://afn.asia/.
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