ETHRA’s monthly roundup of news: TPD Evaluation Report - Open Evidence Report - Belgian Ban - PRDT Letter to the Commission - Rise of the pragmatists - Ten reasons to dislike the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill - Impacts of the UK disposable ban - Health Risks of Dual Use - Country updates. Read on for more.
Contents:
TPD Evaluation report
On Thursday 2 April, the European Commission published its Evaluation Report on the legislative framework for tobacco control The report focussed on rule-making activity, implementation, and compliance: it does not address whether the tobacco control framework is an effective public health or consumer protection regime. It ignores the role of safer nicotine products for smoking cessation and paves the way for more prohibitionist measures.
Read more here:
https://ethra.co/news/184-eu-commission-tpd-evaluation-report
Open Evidence report published
The consortium tasked with the review of the TPD have published their report. ETHRA participated in the process.
See the report here:
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/77c36c87-4370-11f1-8095-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
ETHRA article on the validation workshop:
https://ethra.co/submissions/144-memo-tobacco-control-acquis-evaluation-validation-workshop
TPD file moved to scientific unit
The European Commission has moved responsibility for the TPD to its scientific advice unit following concerns about gaps in the underlying data. A negative opinion from the Regulatory Scrutiny Board highlighted weaknesses in the evidence base used in the evaluation. The Commission has acknowledged that data from Member States was incomplete, raising questions about the reliability of the conclusions drawn.
Read more here:
https://ecigintelligence.com/european-commission-moves-tpd-file-to-its-scientific-unit-amid-data-concerns/
Belgium
Belgium’s federal government approved a ban on flavored vapes, with only tobacco-flavored and unflavored e-liquid allowed on the market from September 2028.
Read more here:
https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-ban-flavored-vapes-from-2028/
Ireland
Sinn Féin spokesperson on health voices his opposition to the Irish government's proposed vape flavour ban. He encourages consumers to get in touch and let him know the impact a flavour ban would have on them.
See more here:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/udAE_ijWSMM
Netherlands
A Dutch government commissioned study finds that the vast majority of people who vape in the Netherlands are using illegal products or purchasing via illicit channels. The findings point to unintended consequences following recent restrictions, including the flavour ban.
Read more here:
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/04/most-vape-users-buying-illegal-products-study-finds/
France
Nicotine pouches were subject to a ban in France scheduled for early 2026. But after a decision by the Council of State, this measure is temporarily paused, postponing its entry into force.
Read more here:
https://www.harmonie-sante.fr/sante-soins/maladies-traitements/nicotine-linterdiction-pouches-est-suspendue
Spain
The Platform for Tobacco Harm Reduction wrote to the European Commission with a key message that nicotine products exist on a continuum of risk.
See the letter here:
https://x.com/PRDTabaquismo/status/2049158571317694509?s=20
https://prdtabaquismo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Letter-to-European-Commission.pdf
Sweden
Sweden has challenged France’s strict ban on nicotine pouches, including restrictions on possession and use. Swedish officials argue the measure is disproportionate and concerns have been raised about the impact on travellers carrying products for personal use.
Read more here
https://swedenherald.com/article/swedens-demand-in-paris-dont-touch-white-snus
UK
Experts have criticised the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which became law on 29 April. Clive Bates commented, we have anti-smoking measures that will do little to reduce smoking and anti-vape measures that are likely to increase smoking.
Read more here:
https://filtermag.org/cigarette-ban-uk-vaping/
More from the UK
The New Nicotine Alliance UK launched a website to help consumers submit their responses to a government consultation which aims to restrict vaping in public spaces.
Read more here:
https://savevaping.org/
Rise of the pragmatists
A new commentary in Nature Health sets out a bold but pragmatic agenda for addressing the global epidemic of smoking and related harms. Meanwhile a cautionary tale explains what can go wrong.
Read more here:
https://clivebates.substack.com/p/rise-of-the-pragmatists
See the paper here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44360-026-00121-1
Ten reasons to dislike the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill
Clive Bates provides a detailed critique of the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill, arguing that the proposed “tobacco-free generation” measure addresses a problem already in decline while failing to target the population most at risk, older adults who smoke.
Read more here
https://clivebates.substack.com/p/ten-reasons-to-dislike-the-uk-tobacco
Impacts of the UK disposable ban
A new paper suggests the UK disposable vape ban may have unintentionally made vaping more affordable for young people. The ban prompted vape manufacturers to introduce disposable-like reusable vapes with lower ongoing costs than disposables.
Read more here:
https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2026/03/31/tc-2025-059661.full
Something to watch:
Arielle Selya discusses the 4 common flaws in studies on health effects of dual use of smoking and vaping.