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Singapore has implemented stringent laws against vaping, leading with severe penalties including long prison sentences and caning. The new Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act broadens the ban on vapes, penalizing possession, sale, and smuggling. The legislation includes harsh punishments for devices containing specified substances. Penalties for personal possession and selling vapes have significantly increased. Advocates fear a spread of prohibition policies in the region. Despite evidence supporting vaping as a smoking cessation tool, Singapore maintains strict regulations. Critics argue that such measures are totalitarian and disregard scientific research, potentially impacting public health negatively.

A campaign has been launched opposing a proposed public vaping ban, with supporters encouraged to take part in a government consultation and contact their Members of Parliament. The initiative highlights concerns that the proposed restrictions are not sufficiently supported by evidence of public health benefit, particularly regarding exposure risks to bystanders. It also emphasises the importance of incorporating real-world experiences into policymaking processes, especially from individuals who have used vaping as a tool to quit smoking. The campaign argues that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking and suggests that overly broad restrictions could undermine harm reduction efforts. Public participation is being encouraged through submissions to the consultation process and the sharing of personal testimonies.

A significant policy shift in Oklahoma is allowing prisoners to access nicotine vapes and pouches through prison commissaries, marking a notable development in harm reduction approaches within correctional systems. Smoking rates among incarcerated populations remain exceptionally high, while traditional tobacco bans have often fuelled illicit trade, debt and violence inside prisons. Officials argue that providing regulated access to lower-risk nicotine alternatives could reduce contraband markets and improve safety conditions. The move reflects a broader debate about whether harm reduction strategies should play a greater role in institutional settings, particularly where complete abstinence policies have proven difficult to enforce.

Growing attention is being given to a major systematic review assessing the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in helping smokers quit. Expert reactions highlight that the findings are consistent with earlier high-quality evidence, suggesting that nicotine e-cigarettes can be an effective cessation tool. Despite this, some scientists point out that these results are still not fully reflected in public health debates, where scepticism towards vaping remains widespread. The discussion underscores a broader disconnect between emerging scientific evidence and how it is interpreted or communicated in policy and public discourse. At its core, the issue raises questions about whether current perceptions of vaping align with the weight of existing research.

Public opinion in New York is showing clear resistance to proposed new taxes on nicotine pouches, highlighting growing tensions around how alternative nicotine products should be regulated. A plan put forward by Governor Kathy Hochul would apply the same high tax rate to nicotine pouches as to cigarettes, despite differences in how these products are used and perceived. Polling data suggests that less than half of New York voters support the measure, with a significant share favouring lower taxation for these products. The proposal has sparked a broader debate about whether treating lower-risk alternatives the same as combustible tobacco could discourage smokers from switching. At the centre of the discussion is how taxation policy can balance public health goals, consumer behaviour, and harm reduction strategies in an evolving nicotine market.

Growing concern is being voiced by some researchers that the European Union’s approach to vaping may be moving away from scientific evidence and real-world outcomes. A leading expert in tobacco harm reduction warns that stricter regulations and higher taxes on nicotine alternatives could risk reversing progress in reducing smoking rates. Criticism focuses on what is seen as a failure to properly distinguish between combustible cigarettes and lower-risk alternatives such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Examples such as Sweden are frequently highlighted, where widespread adoption of harm reduction products has contributed to some of the lowest smoking rates in Europe. There are also concerns that restrictive policies could unintentionally drive consumers back to smoking or toward illicit markets if safer alternatives become less accessible or more expensive. The debate ultimately reflects a broader clash between precautionary regulation and evidence-based public health strategies in shaping the future of nicotine policy across the EU.

North Macedonia is intensifying oversight of its medical cannabis sector after uncovering widespread irregularities among licensed producers. Authorities have revoked additional licences from several companies following inspections that identified legal and operational breaches. The move follows earlier enforcement actions and large-scale seizures of cannabis allegedly diverted from legal production into illicit markets. Officials have announced broader inspections across the entire industry, signalling concerns about systemic weaknesses in regulatory control. The developments highlight growing pressure to tighten governance and ensure transparency in a rapidly expanding medical cannabis market.

Growing scrutiny is being placed on how conflicts of interest are defined and managed within public policy, research, and advocacy. Concerns are emerging that current frameworks may be too narrow, overlooking indirect influences such as funding sources, institutional ties, and ideological alignment. Critics argue that this lack of clarity can distort policy debates and undermine trust in decision-making processes. The discussion calls for a broader and more transparent approach to identifying potential biases, particularly in areas where science, regulation, and public interest intersect. At its core, the issue raises fundamental questions about accountability, credibility, and the integrity of evidence used to shape policy.

Brussels is preparing for a major political and regulatory confrontation as the European Union begins revisiting its tobacco policy framework. The debate is being fuelled by a forthcoming European Commission study examining the health effects of alternative nicotine products, which is expected to shape future legislation. Deep divisions are emerging between policymakers, with some pushing for stricter controls on all nicotine products and others advocating for a more differentiated, risk-based approach. The outcome of this clash could significantly influence how products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco are regulated across the EU. At stake is not only the future of tobacco control policy, but also the broader direction of public health strategy in balancing precaution with harm reduction. System could not access the page, the text article must be completed manually

The FDA issued draft guidance on evaluating flavoured nicotine vaping products for public health. The new framework may not significantly impact the U.S. vaping industry. The guidance places a high evidentiary burden on flavored vapes, preferred by adult smokers. It questions whether flavoured vapes should exceed tobacco vapes or match combustible tobacco.