Geneva, 30 October 2025 – The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) took a stand against the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union (EU) Commission at the COP11 venue through a light show protest. The demonstration aimed to shed light on the apparent collusion between the two organizations and the need for consumer representation in decisions that could harm harm reduction products like vaping and nicotine pouches.
The protest, held on Thursday, 30 October 2025, called for consumers to have a say in the regulations imposed on harm reduction products. The WVA highlighted the coordinated lobbying efforts that are pushing for stricter and faster regulations, including potential bans on flavors and even complete prohibition.
According to leaked EU Commission documents, the organization has explicit intentions to pursue harsher regulations at COP11, despite denying such plans when challenged. This discrepancy was condemned by Michael Landl, Director of the WVA, who stated, “The EU Commission write bans into their official COP position, then denies it. They lobby for tougher rules at the WHO, then insist Europe must follow because the WHO said so. This is a rigged game meant to avoid democratic processes and silence consumers. WHO and the EU Commission became an unholy alliance of misinformation and paternalistic overreach.”
Both the EU Commission and the WHO have ignored the proven benefits of harm reduction products. By targeting vaping and nicotine pouches for harsh restrictions or outright bans, they are putting millions of smokers at risk of returning to the more harmful habit of smoking. This approach disregards scientific evidence and the real-world success stories of individuals who have successfully quit smoking through the use of these less harmful alternatives.
Alberto Gomez Hernandez, Policy Manager of the WVA, further emphasized the detrimental effects of banning flavors and imposing strict regulations on harm reduction products, stating, “Banning flavours and imposing harsh restrictions on less harmful alternatives will not protect anyone. Instead, it forces smokers back to cigarettes or the black market. Consumers need a genuine seat at the table, not exclusion and predetermined outcomes.”
COP11 is scheduled to run from 17 to 22 November, and the WVA’s “Voices Unheard – Consumers Matter” campaign is calling on governments to reject undemocratic restrictions and to finally listen to consumer voices and scientific evidence.
For media inquiries, please contact Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, at michael@worldvapersalliance.com. High-resolution pictures of the protest can be found here.
About the World Vapers’ Alliance:
The World Vapers’ Alliance is an organization that amplifies consumer voices globally and advocates for evidence-based regulations that support harm reduction. The WVA fights for policies that are grounded in science and protect consumer rights.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.