Light Show Protest Calls Out Unholy Alliance Between WHO and EU Commission

Leaked EU Commission documents reveal that it explicitly intends to pursue stricter regulations at COP11, ranging from flavour bans to a complete prohibition. Yet when challenged, Commission officials publicly deny any such plans.

Michael Landl, Director of the WVA, said: "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’s and the WHO’s positions ignore the proven benefits of harm reduction products. By targeting vaping and nicotine pouches for harsh restrictions or outright bans, it risks pushing millions of smokers back to the far more harmful habit of smoking. This approach disregards scientific evidence and the real-world success stories of those who have quit smoking thanks to these less harmful alternatives.

Alberto Gomez Hernandez, Policy Manager of the WVA, added: "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 runs from 17 to 22 November. WVA’s “Voices Unheard – Consumers Matter” campaign calls on governments to reject this undemocratic spiral of restrictions and to finally listen to consumer voices and science.

More high-resolution pictures can be found here.