The WHO Tobacco Laboratory network is a global tobacco testing
laboratory network, established by the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI), in
2005. This is based on WHO’s Study Group
on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg) recommendation to build and strengthen
tobacco product testing and research capacity in pursuance of Articles 9 and 10
of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The network, under the leadership of WHO TFI,
develops and validates methods and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for
testing the contents and emissions of nicotine and tobacco products.
The SOPs, which are WHO Global Goods (“public health goods
developed or undertaken by WHO that are of benefit either globally or to
multiple countries across multiple regions”) provide technical guidance and
tools to Member States to strengthen national and regional regulation of
nicotine and tobacco products. It is made up of laboratories in academia,
research agencies, government and other laboratories independent of the tobacco
industry and WHO, through the network’s activities, provides technical
leadership in nicotine and tobacco product testing. Further, the SOPs
operationalize TobReg’s recommendations to support implementation of Articles 9
and 10 of the WHO FCTC, thereby ensuring regulatory compliance, to drive impact
at country level.
Contact
Chair and Vice-Chair
Dr Nuan Ping Cheah
Chair
Mr Walther Klerx
Vice-Chair