The EU is highly likely to jeopardise harm reduction efforts by imposing higher taxes on less risky nicotine products, while Sweden has systematically proven through its approach that harm reduction is one of the most effective ways for countries to decrease smoking rates and prevent smoking-related illnesses. What needs to be done? In this open letter, several consumer-driven organisations warn that the Swedish government should say no to unreasonable nicotine taxes.

“This is a direct assault on those trying to quit. Vapers are not piggy banks for government budgets; we just want to stay away from smoking,” Michael said at Clearing the Air.

While Sweden can, for now, be the saviour of harm reduction across the EU, there are many negative developments for vapers that might go unnoticed by consumers. Ahead of the European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) session on the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED), a manoeuvre emerged that left observers stunned. Andris Gobiņš, a Latvian member of the EESC, tabled 24 amendments at the very end of a long drafting process, aiming to strip the ESSC’s opinion on the revision of TED of any economic and harm‑reduction realism. Michael wrote a blog warning about what might happen – so stay informed.

Now onto better news – despite the hostile climate, WVA’s partners and THR friends around the world are fighting the good battle. Here are some highlights from the THR movement this week.

VSML has launched an AI-generated audio overview based on a comprehensive search of 50 research sources, comparing scientific methods for establishing harm. It contrasts the observational approach of the 1960s with the technological techniques used in the 21st century. Listen here!

Vaping Today has launched a new episode of Let’s Clear Things Up. The hosts sat down with legal expert Jeannie Cameron to ask the hard questions: Is the WHO overstepping its mandate with Article 2.1? Why is the FCTC operating in total secrecy compared to other UN bodies? Listen here.

That’s it for this week, dear vapers.

Keep up the good fight – we have an interesting year ahead.