Panellists used their expertise in the recent regulatory developments of some key markets to shed light on broader principles. How can regulation support innovation and offer consumers choice at the same time as safeguarding public health? Do producers and consumers want the same things? Panellists discussed the risks of over- or under-regulation and the growth of illicit markets, and the discussion examined how effective regulation can drive investment, support the shift away from combustible tobacco and encourage harm reduction, also drawing lessons from other industries.

Canada’s war on nicotine has reached an extreme burden. With a 124% tax hike, sweeping flavor bans, and a “nicotine control” agenda, millions of adult vapers are in danger of being pushed back to smoking. Shot on location at GFN 2025 in Warsaw, Sam Tam, president of the Canadian Vaping Association, warns that misguided policies are destroying small businesses, fueling the black market, and undermining Canada’s smoke-free future.

Featuring:

SAM TAM

President, Canadian Vaping Association

@thecvaofficial

thecva.org

The media often frames tobacco in a way that feels stuck in the 1990s—ignoring new science and harm reduction tools like e-cigarettes, snus, and nicotine pouches.

In this interview, journalist Jacob Grier explains why coverage of smoking and tobacco policy is often outdated, how this impacts public perception, and why it’s time to rethink the conversation around nicotine.

👉 What do you think—are the media behind on tobacco harm reduction? Share your thoughts below.

Join Barnaby Page (Editorial Director, ECigIntelligence & Tobacco Intelligence) as he hosts a thought-provoking discussion with Sam Tam (Canadian Vaping Association) and Jeannie Cameron (expert in international tobacco control policy).

In this GFN 2025 commentary session, the panel explores:

- The impact of the FCTC, 20 years later

- Different perspectives on tobacco harm reduction (THR)

- The evolving role of vaping and consumer advocacy

- Key takeaways from the Global Forum on Nicotine so far

Whether you’re a policymaker, public health professional, or simply curious about the future of nicotine, this conversation offers valuable insights into the global debate on smoking alternatives and regulation.

Institutions like WHO, regulators, and NGOs are hostile to harm reduction and have shifted their firepower from smoking to safer nicotine alternatives, says Clive Bates, international tobacco control policy expert. Shot on location at GFN 2025 in Warsaw, Bates describes public health’s “war on nicotine” as a misguided, ideological crusade that betrays its original mission of reducing smoking-related disease and death.

Featuring:

CLIVE BATES

Tobacco Control Policy Expert, Counterfactual Consulting

Former Dir. of Action on Smoking and Health (UK)

@Clive_Bates

clivebates.com

Flavours have been a focal point of the debate about safer nicotine products, with calls to ban or restrict flavours often receiving significant media coverage. This workshop highlighted the growing evidence supporting the use of flavours in smoking cessation and explored changing attitudes to these products and the challenges regulators face in creating risk-proportionate legislation.

Sweden’s success with snus and now nicotine pouches proves tobacco harm reduction is a model for helping millions quit smoking. But there’s a secret behind this success. Shot on location at GFN 2025 in Warsaw, Poland, we speak with Anna Franzén and Tomas Hammargren of Emplicure about the big questions surrounding nicotine policy and the realities of recreational use.

GFN Voices 2025 #7 | Why communication is the heart of science? by GFN.TV

Examining available evidence on the net public health impact of incorporating tobacco harm reduction principles in policymaking, participants discussed the challenges and opportunities to leverage tobacco harm reduction approaches to achieve LMIC public health goals. The aim was to identify the top three priorities as a takeaway for key stakeholders in the audience.

In India, hundreds of millions of tobacco users are kept in the dark about safer nicotine products, while the government bans popular alternatives like vaping and stays silent on even basic NRTs. Shot on location at GFN 2025 in Warsaw, Poland, Jagannath Sarangapani exposes how prohibition and the absence of relative risk messaging have shaped the country’s tobacco control strategy.