Background

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently authorised modified‑risk claims for certain non‑combustible nicotine products, adding to an international dialogue on tobacco‑control strategies. Nations such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, Japan and Norway have reported declines in cigarette smoking alongside increased uptake of non‑combustible alternatives, while the United States permits such modified‑risk claims after FDA evaluation.

Call for Indian Scientific Review

The press release questions whether India’s research institutions are prepared to conduct an independent analysis of this emerging data, adapted to the Indian context. It argues that the accumulated global research should be reviewed dispassionately by domestic scientists, neither dismissed on ideological grounds nor embraced uncritically.

Role of ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), described as the apex biomedical research body and the government’s key scientific advisor, is positioned as the most suitable agency to lead an objective appraisal of the new tobacco and nicotine evidence. ICMR’s historic assessments have guided national policy on infectious diseases, clinical research standards, and vaccine development, aligning with internationally accepted benchmarks such as those of the U.S. FDA and ICH.

Expert Opinions

  • Dr. Mohsin Wali, Senior Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi and Padma Shri awardee, states that India has a track record of critically scrutinising global evidence and tailoring it to domestic priorities, citing ICMR’s work on COVID‑19 diagnostics, gene‑therapy development, clinical trials and Good Clinical Practice. He notes that while U.S. cigarette smoking and overall tobacco consumption have declined over several decades, India continues to face a large and, in some segments, growing tobacco challenge.
  • Dr. Chandrakant S. Pandav, Former Professor & Head of the Department – Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS New Delhi and Padma Shri awardee, acknowledges concerns that discussion of reduced‑risk products could spur youth uptake. He counters with U.S. data showing that after the FDA authorised modified‑risk claims for adults, overall youth tobacco use fell from 23.3% in 2019 to 7.5% in 2025 – the third consecutive annual decline. Youth e‑cigarette consumption dropped to 5.2%, its lowest in a decade, teenage cigarette smoking stood at 1.4%, and use of the authorised oral products was 1.7%. He argues that calibrated governance combined with sustained public‑health messaging can curb youth uptake while pathways for adult smokers are evaluated.

Public‑Health Context in India

India bears one of the world’s largest tobacco burdens, with nearly 267 million users. Tobacco‑related illness remains a leading cause of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Despite repeated cessation attempts, millions of adult consumers are unable to quit, underscoring the need for an evidence‑based conversation on alternatives for grown users.

Rationale for Independent Review

The release stresses that calling for an independent scientific review does not imply adopting another nation’s policies, endorsing any product, or weakening India’s existing tobacco‑control framework. Instead, it seeks to enable Indian researchers to rigorously examine the data’s strengths, limitations, long‑term outcomes and population‑level effects, and to determine any relevance within India’s epidemiological and regulatory environment. The document highlights that scientific rigor has historically underpinned sound public‑health policy in India, from the COVID‑19 response to vaccine development, and argues that similar rigor should guide strategies for tobacco and nicotine consumption.

Disclaimer

The content is presented as a press release; PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the material.