As a responsible manufacturer, Imperial Brands is committed to advocating for science-led, data-driven policymaking.
These ambitions align with the values of the annual Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN).
The GFN is an important event in the public health calendar, and one in which Imperial Brands has established ourselves as an advocate for consumer‑centric science and innovation, as well as risk‑proportionate regulation.
With pivotal new EU-wide policy on the horizon, it’s crucial that independent, credible scientific voices are active, visible, and engaged at this time.
With this in mind, our Corporate Affairs teams attended a roundtable organised by GFN featuring noted scientists and academics to discuss some of the key issues. It’s important that consultation responses are driven by scientific consensus and include all relevant voices – including industry, scientists, and adult nicotine consumers – all speaking in unison.
Scientific research lies at the heart of the GFN, and Imperial Brands contributed through two dedicated ‘Science Lab’ sessions – deep dives into pertinent areas of harm reduction research.
In the first, Thomas Nahde – Head of Harm Reduction & Engagement – discussed our research around the impact of NGP on cardiovascular health, with a thorough examination of the scientific evidence to-date in both the laboratory and clinic.
Later, Layla Malt – Senior Behavioural Science Manager – led a discussion focusing on our blu ‘actual use’ behavioural studies. These innovative studies tracked adult smoking participants and explored how they used our vaping products over time to substantially reduce smoking – or even stop using cigarettes and/or nicotine entirely.
Layla presented new exciting findings from the data, focusing more closely on participants’ individual journeys to better understand what factors drove behavioural change as they switched from cigarettes to vapes.
Imperial also contributed to a GFN panel session. Libby Clarke – Scientific Substantiation & Engagement Lead – played her part in a panel hosted by Ian Fearon: ‘Debunking the science used to push for prohibition’. Focusing on ‘myth busting’, the panellists explored regulatory concerns over NGP, and considered the role of misinformation and misleading science – especially around nicotine and its role in smoking-related disease – in influencing ineffective decision-making. They also discussed the public health opportunities through opting for harm reduction approaches over blanket bans of NGP.
Imperial Brands also submitted a record number of ‘GFN Five’ videos to the conference this year – short films discussing our latest NGP research.
Finally, our dedicated science booth and assets enabled attendees including industry, scientists, public health professionals, and noted harm reductionists to interact constructively with our team during the conference.
The impact of the Global Forum on Nicotine shows that there is a growing body of data – and academic consensus – demonstrating that, when NGP are pragmatically regulated, harm reduction works: in studies, in markets, and – most importantly – through the lived experiences of millions of adults who smoke across the world who are seeking healthier futures.
Our thanks to the organisers.
Read and watch more content from GFN 2026 at https://gfn.events/#GFN24.
Words by Rob Taylor, Senior Harm Reduction Communications Manager.
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