Brussels, 15 September 2025 — The European Commission’s official statement that “new nicotine products” have health risks comparable to smoking marks a new level of misinformation. Commissioner Varhelyi confirmed this in a written answer to a question from Members of Parliament. By choosing ideology and ignoring scientific evidence, the Commission misleads millions of smokers and former smokers.

World Vapers’ Alliance Director Michael Landl said:

“Brussels is now making disinformation its official policy. Treating vaping and other alternatives as dangerous as smoking will do nothing but keep people smoking. The Commission is failing smokers by choosing headlines and ideology over facts.”

Across Europe, countries like Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece have shown that supporting harm reduction helps cut smoking rates. Sweden is almost smoke-free because it has embraced less harmful alternatives.

As “Clearing the Air” reports, many scientists and public health experts have spoken out against the EU Commission’s misinformation. Officials and public health bodies in the UK, France, and Germany, along with the US Food and Drug Administration, and nearly every major scientific review agree: it is the smoke that causes harm, and neither vaping products nor nicotine pouches produce smoke.

Therefore, the World Vapers’ Alliance calls on the Commission to stop treating harm reduction as a threat and focus on real solutions that save lives. Europe deserves policies based on evidence, not fear.