According to him, technological gadgets, vapes, pod systems, and other alternatives are increasingly appearing on the market.

«Nicotine pouches, attractive flavors such as strawberry and watermelon, and most dangerously, synthetic nicotine, which formally does not fall under old definitions and is not regulated in all countries. According to WHO data, 40 million teenagers worldwide aged from 13 to 15 already consume tobacco or nicotine in some form, and Kyrgyzstan is no exception. Fifteen million of them use electronic cigarettes. The most alarming thing is that teenagers are nine times more likely than adults to start with vapes and later switch to other products, including traditional cigarettes,» Liviu Vedrasco said.

He noted that Kyrgyzstan’s legislation complies with many requirements of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. However, monitoring shows a huge gap between the text of the law and its enforcement.

Liviu Vedrasco highlighted three major failures that society should pay attention to.

The first is accessibility for children and teenagers. According to a global survey, 87 percent of schoolchildren can still easily buy nicotine products in shops and kiosks. He said this is not only a healthcare issue but also a problem of control and law enforcement.

The second issue concerns new products that evade regulation, including synthetic nicotine and nicotine-free liquids containing dangerous chemicals. The law does not keep pace with banning them.

The third problem is aggressive digital marketing.

«The industry has moved to social media. Children see not cancer warnings but attractive images,»

he said.

Liviu Vedrasco also drew attention to a problem specific to Kyrgyzstan — nasvai.

«In Batken region, nasvai production continues. Producers were given 36 months to switch to alternative agricultural products, and this period has already expired, but nasvai is still available on the market and people continue to consume it. In addition to other diseases, nasvai causes cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity. It is produced illegally and is not taxed. This is a social time bomb, and the problem must be addressed,» he stressed.

According to him, WHO recommends that Kyrgyzstan: — strengthen control over the sale of all nicotine-containing products to minors; — close loopholes related to synthetic nicotine and new products; — introduce a ban on flavorings that make products attractive to children; — ensure access to nicotine addiction treatment programs; — improve monitoring of enforcement of anti-tobacco legislation.