EXCLUSIVE: Belgian Deputy Prime Minister to host public anti-nicotine seminar during COP 11
October 21, 2025 by clearingtheair.eu
EXCLUSIVE: Belgian Deputy Prime Minister to host public anti-nicotine seminar during COP 11
Belgium's ex-Health Minister Franck Vandenbroucke will lead a seminar on vaping at the WHO conference in November. He criticizes vaping as dangerous and aims to eliminate it globally. Despite strict tobacco controls in Belgium, smoking rates stagnate at 21%, with new bans on nicotine pouches and disposable vapes creating a thriving black market. Vandenbroucke plans to involve ministers worldwide in the seminar, but the public's role remains unclear. Efforts to reduce smoking without new policies have proven ineffective, with reports of ongoing sales of banned products in Belgium.
21.70% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 2.1 million current smokers in Belgium 24.70% of men are current smokers but only 18.90% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
