PMI pushes harm-reduction agenda as T&T faces tobacco policy crossroads

WASHINGTON, DC

Trinidad and Tobago could soon face renewed debate over its tobacco control policies, as Philip Morris International (PMI) ramps up efforts to promote harm-reduction alternatives across the Caribbean.

With tobacco-related illnesses continuing to contribute to the country’s burden of non-communicable diseases, the company is advocating for a shift in public health strategy—one that encourages adult smokers to transition away from combustible cigarettes to lower-risk alternatives rather than relying solely on cessation.

PMI is positioning T&T as a key market in this regional push, developing infrastructure, forming scientific partnerships, and expanding access to alternative nicotine products across the Caribbean.

These efforts are supported by more than US$14 billion in research and development investment since 2008, reflecting what the company describes as a fundamental shift away from traditional cigarette products.

Building on this investment, Dr Andrea Costantini, PMI’s head of regional scientific engagement for Latin America and Canada, said the company is now directing the vast majority of its scientific resources toward smoke-free products.

She noted that more than 99 per cent of PMI’s annual research and development expenditure is dedicated to this portfolio.

Speaking to Guardian Media during the Technovation conference at the Hamilton Hotel in Washington, DC, Costantini said, “We are totally committed to developing better alternatives that deliver nicotine while representing the lowest possible risk for users. We are investing as much as possible to develop and substantiate these products with rigorous science.”

For T&T, where policymakers continue to grapple with rising healthcare costs linked to non-communicable diseases, PMI argues that access to lower-risk alternatives could form part of a broader public health response.

Costantini maintained that Caribbean populations, including T&T, should not be left behind in accessing innovations already available in more developed markets.

To guide its approach, PMI has adopted a tiered public health framework: while the best option is never to start smoking and the second best is to quit entirely, the company argues that a pragmatic approach is necessary for smokers who are unwilling or unable to stop.

Recognising this, PMI contends that switching to scientifically substantiated, non-combustible alternatives represents the next best scenario.

Across T&T and the wider Caribbean, the company is introducing a range of these technologies, including heated tobacco systems that produce an aerosol without burning organic material, and nicotine pouches designed for oral use.

By eliminating combustion—the primary source of harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke—PMI argues that these products present a less harmful option for adult smokers.

Supporting these claims, Costantini pointed to extensive clinical trials conducted by the company to assess reductions in exposure to toxicants and carcinogens.

“We were able to see that 95 per cent of the reduction in exposure achieved by cessation is what we get when smokers switch exclusively to our heated tobacco product,” she explained.

She also cited studies indicating favourable changes in clinical risk markers among individuals who switched to non-combustible alternatives compared to those who continued smoking.

However, the extent to which these products gain traction in T&T will depend on regulatory clarity, public education, and the position of local health authorities.

PMI said it is engaging with Caribbean stakeholders—including media, independent experts, and public health observers—to promote a clearer distinction between combustible and non-combustible products and to encourage a more science-based approach to tobacco control.

Despite its push, Costantini acknowledged that these alternatives are not risk-free and are intended only for existing adult smokers.

The company’s long-term objective, she said, is to make smoke-free products so accessible and widely understood that they ultimately replace combustible cigarettes.

As this conversation unfolds, PMI’s strategy is likely to add a new dimension to T&T’s public health debate—balancing harm reduction, regulation, and long-term health outcomes.

Technovation by Philip Morris International is a science-driven platform highlighting the company’s transition to smoke-free alternatives.