Hi THR supporters, I’m back with the latest updates from the vaping world.

Let’s start with some good news – because why not? I was particularly excited about this one. The French health agency ANSES clearly acknowledged that vaping carries significantly less risk than smoking. We responded with a press release highlighting the importance of such evidence-based reports from respected health institutions.

Meanwhile, while we are seeing positive developments in France, Australia continues to surprise us – unfortunately, not in a good way. The WVA has officially submitted its evidence to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, warning that Australia’s restrictive vaping laws are the primary driver of the country’s escalating illicit tobacco and nicotine crisis. Even if expectations are low, we still hope that, one day, policymakers will listen. Read more here.

There are also concerns about developments in Malaysia. The health ministry is planning to impose a full-scale vape ban, starting with open-pod systems. The justification appears to be that some consumers are misusing these devices with illicit substances. But the real issue is the black market. Illicit products are the result of unregulated trade, and further restrictions on legal products will not solve this problem. Instead of banning legal alternatives, authorities should focus on tackling illicit trade through smarter regulation and enforcement. We will continue to monitor the situation in Malaysia as it develops in mid-2026.

For our Spanish-speaking friends, we highly recommend an article by toxicologist Bernd Mayer, in which he discusses nicotine and common misconceptions surrounding it.

Finally, a partner highlight. Many of you know Kurt Yeo from VSML. Kurt has released a great video exploring what AI says about vaping – definitely worth a watch.

That’s it for this week, dear vapers.