The United Kingdom’s aspiring plan to phase out tobacco use is facing a potential hurdle. A member of the House of Lords, Lord Vaizey, has suggested postponing the proposed ban on heated tobacco products. This move comes shortly after a leading cigarette manufacturer, Philip Morris International (PMI), sponsored his visit to their research facilities in Switzerland.

The tobacco and vapes bill aims to incrementally increase the age at which individuals can purchase tobacco products, potentially making the UK the first major economy to eliminate tobacco consumption entirely. However,Lord Vaizey’s amendment seeks to mandate further inquiry into the “potential” risks associated with heated tobacco compared to traditional cigarettes,which could disrupt the current timeline.

Controversial Amendment Proposed

Lord Vaizey’s proposal was submitted approximately six weeks after his visit to PMI’s research center in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where he was a guest of the company. PMI, the maker of the IQOS heated tobacco system, covered the costs of Lord Vaizey’s travel and accommodation, according to his declared parliamentary interests.

Following his trip, Lord vaizey participated in a House of Lords debate on the tobacco and vapes bill on April 23rd. During the debate, he disclosed his visit to the Philip Morris facility, known as The Cube, which has also hosted politicians from Finland and Colombia. He stated that he had met with scientists researching heated tobacco products.

“There is an argument which says that people should be able to access nicotine if it can be done in a safe way,” said Vaizey.

vaizey’s Stance on Heated Tobacco

Lord Vaizey, who admitted to using IQOS products, argued that “people should be able to access nicotine if it can be done in a safe way.” He further added, “a lot of the tone of this debate looks backward at the sins of the big tobacco. It does not perhaps acknowledge…that big tobacco has perhaps moved forward in terms of heated tobacco.”

On May 14th, Lord Vaizey formally introduced his amendment, advocating for a delay in the ban on heated tobacco products like IQOS. His amendment would require the health secretary to “assess the harm to human health associated with the use of tobacco related devices” and compare those harms to those caused by traditional cigarettes.

The proposed amendment mirrors arguments previously made by Philip Morris in a 2023 legal challenge against the tobacco and vapes bill.PMI had questioned the “meaningful” nature of the government’s consultation and sought to exclude heated tobacco products from the ban’s scope.