Hello vaping fam,

We are back with the wrap-up blog to sum up some of the latest tobacco harm reduction updates and share a few things worth getting familiar with this week. So, if you feel a bit out of the loop, you’re in the right place. Let’s roll.

The European Parliament passed in plenary its response to the Commission’s Safe Hearts Plan, the EU’s first cardiovascular health strategy. The report itself is mostly about blood pressure targets, cholesterol screening and access to cardiac care. But buried inside it is a section on tobacco and nicotine that matters directly to vapers and pouch users, and it looks meaningfully different from where the file started. The developments are on a positive side so read the full blog here. 

And here’s something worth looking into from Brussels. A new report from the Free Market Foundation traced over €12.8 million in EU funding going to nine NGOs involved in advocacy across different policy areas. The report raises questions about “circular lobbying” – when EU-funded organisations lobby EU institutions, while their advocacy is presented as independent civil society pressure. Where does independent advocacy end and publicly funded lobbying begin? Worth a read.

Some good news from the United States – recently, the FDA authorised 11 new nicotine pouch products through the PMTA process. While the US is increasing the number of less harmful products available to adult smokers, the EU persistently spreads the message that those very products pose a similar risk as cigarettes. Will the EU follow the US lead? Read more. 

Meanwhile, Health Canada updated its national tobacco and vaping data tool this year, and the youth numbers are worth sitting with. Read more on how Canada’s own numbers undercut the gateway numbers in our recent blog.

An updated Cochrane Review of 80 randomised trials covering almost 30,000 smokers found that nicotine vaping helps more smokers quit than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as gums or patches. Despite growing evidence that alternative nicotine products such as vaping work, politicians continue to mislead the public. How should we respond to that? Here is Michael’s blog diving into the topic.

Being a tourist can sometimes get frustrating when you use alternative nicotine products like vapes or pouches. So many countries and airlines, so many different policies and rules to keep track of. For instance, did you know that at Doha airport smokers can smoke in dedicated areas, while e-cigarettes are forbidden? This blog is part of our travel series, so make sure to check it out.

Partner highlight: Campaign for Safer Alternatives recently conducted a survey in Kenya showing that a ban on nicotine flavours could drive ex-smokers back to cigarettes. The poll was carried out online from 29 June to 6 July 2026, focusing on current users of safer alternatives and smokers who intend to switch to either vapes or pouches. Want to know the results? Follow this link.

That’s it for today. Stay informed, stay loud, and see you in the next wrap-up!