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Despite efforts to sever ties, tobacco-funded research still appears in top medical journals, complicating efforts to distance from the industry. The Investigative Desk and The BMJ's investigation found that only 20% of leading medical journals have policies against tobacco-funded studies. Identifying funding sources is challenging due to tobacco companies' involvement in various fields. The revised BMJ policy now excludes research funded by the industry and work with authors' financial ties to tobacco companies, aiming to publish more independent and reliable content. Experts emphasize the importance of rejecting industry money to protect public health and integrity in research.

The importance of World Vape Day on May 30 has grown since 2024 due to increased misinformation and barriers to harm reduction. The World Health Organization battles misinformation but spreads inaccuracies about vaping, impacting public trust. False claims about vaping by the WHO and others perpetuate misconceptions, affecting policies globally. Despite victories and consumer-led movements advocating for tobacco harm reduction, challenges persist, including bans and regulations in various countries. Advocates continue efforts to safeguard access to safer nicotine products. Celebrating past successes, proponents aim to inspire progress and unity on World Vape Day and beyond in the ongoing fight for vaping rights and public health.

Goldman Sachs predicts safer nicotine will overtake cigarettes in the U.S. this year. Millions have already made the switch, despite tobacco control efforts, not because of it. David Sweanor breaks down the consumer-led collapse of smoking and how it likely can’t be stopped.

WHO praised South Africa for enhancing anti-tobacco laws on World No-Tobacco Day. The country aims to ban tobacco and vaping advertising, regulate e-cigarettes, and combat manipulative marketing targeting youth. The Tobacco Products Control Bill addresses health risks from tobacco and e-cigarettes by banning advertising, regulating e-cigarettes, and protecting youth from predatory marketing. The bill seeks to reduce smoking and vaping among young people and challenge Big Tobacco's strategies. Its focus is on public health and ending nicotine addiction in South Africa by closing regulatory gaps and protecting the youth.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed a foreign vape company received a nicotine manufacturing license from MIDA. The Act 852 regulates e-cigarette import, manufacture, and distribution. The company, Ispire Technology Inc., was granted an interim manufacturing license under MITI and MIDA. MOH emphasized Act 852's strict regulation of e-cigarette liquids and smoking products. The MOH aims to ensure public health and safety in line with Madani values. Malaysia aims to be smoke-free by 2040. Ispire manufactures cannabis vaporizers but the MOH did not address this. The MOH did not disclose if Ispire had authorization to produce cannabis-related products.

Countries such as Italy, Greece, and Romania, which have lower tax rates, oppose the proposal to increase taxes on nicotine products. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the EU to tax vapes and nicotine pouches. Last week, 15 finance and economy ministers urged EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to publish the long-delayed Tobacco Taxation Directive (TTD), arguing that the current rules are outdated and don't cover newer nicotine products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco. The revision was initially proposed in 2022 as part of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.

E-cigarettes are targeting children with enticing flavors and slick marketing, leading to a rise in youth nicotine addiction. These products, disguised as everyday items, can deliver harmful doses of nicotine and toxic chemicals. Governments must step in to regulate or ban e-cigarettes to protect young people. Several countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region have already taken action. The WHO is calling for strong measures to prevent a new epidemic of addiction and disease. It's crucial to act now to avoid the long-term health consequences and costs associated with nicotine use. It's essential to learn from the past tobacco industry tactics and prevent history from repeating itself.

Dr. Martin Makary, the new head of the FDA, faces criticism for stating that half of high school students are addicted to vaping. Concerned about Chinese-made vaping products designed to lure kids, Makary urged stricter measures. However, data shows lower youth vaping rates than claimed. While advocating against teen nicotine addiction, experts caution against sensationalized claims.

Global tobacco harm reduction experts criticized the WHO and FCTC for hindering World No Tobacco Day goals by ignoring harm-reducing tools like vaping. They believe the WHO's approach fuels black markets and smoking-related deaths, dismissing evidence supporting harm reduction as effective. Panelists highlighted the importance of embracing innovation and consumer input to combat the global smoking epidemic. The WHO's prohibitionist stance was deemed counterproductive, with calls to prioritize saving lives over endorsing failed policies. Despite evidence showing harm reduction methods help smokers quit, the WHO's resistance to such tools was seen as detrimental to public health.

European Commissioner Varhelyi's misleading statements on vaping's health risks have sparked criticism. Advocates urge him to consult experts, as anti-vape policies unfold in the EU. Varhelyi's claims of vaping being as harmful as smoking and causing "popcorn lung" are refuted by scientific evidence. The European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates express concerns over misinformation influencing regulations that restrict safer nicotine products. They emphasize the need for policy decisions based on facts, not myths. Varhelyi's role includes spearheading initiatives to reduce cancer rates linked to smoking in the EU, despite vaping's proven role in smoking cessation. Requests for a meeting to address misinformation have been made, aiming to safeguard public health decisions.