Spain - Clearing the Air

News

Top EU health official contradicts Commissioner on vaping and pouch risks

Cracks have appeared in the EU’s approach to nicotine science as the EU Commission’s top public health official, Sandra Gallina, publicly contradicted her boss and Health Commissioner Oliver Varheyli on the relative risks of nicotine products. Gallina, whose official title is “Director…

Advocacy

The $4.2 Trillion Illegal Empire: How Illicit Tobacco Funds Terrorism | Hayley van Loon

In this insightful interview, Hayley van Loon, CEO of Crime Stoppers International, details the alarming convergence of organised crime and state actors across global illicit trades, particularly focusing on the illicit tobacco industry. She highlights how this $4.2 trillion "Illegal Empire" is…

Advocacy

Taxes & Organized Crime: The Hidden Cost of EU Nicotine Policy

When it comes to taxing reduced-harm products, is the EU prioritizing public health, or just ignoring its own rules? We recently sat down with former EU tax official Donato Raponi, at the inaugural World Nicotine Congress, to unpack the complex and often…

News

Spain moves to tighten sales channels for vapes and nicotine pouches

Spain’s two main political parties have reached a rare agreement to restrict where vapes and nicotine pouches can be sold, in a move aimed at tightening control over access and distribution. The Popular Party (PP) and Socialist Party (PSOE) backed a non-binding…

News

The world’s toughest vaping crackdowns

From prison sentences to outright constitutional bans, governments around the world are taking an increasingly hard line on vaping. While some countries regulate vapes as lower-risk alternatives to smoking, others have opted for outright prohibition - with penalties ranging from steep fines…

News

Majority of French smokers turning to cross-border and illegal markets as prices rise, study finds

A majority of French smokers are now sourcing tobacco and vaping products outside traditional retail channels, with many turning to cross-border shopping or illicit markets as prices increase, according to a new national survey. The Ifop study of 3,000 smokers and vapers…

News

EU backlash grows over Spain’s nicotine pouch restrictions

A widening coalition of EU member states is pushing back against Spain’s plans to impose sweeping restrictions on nicotine pouches and other smoke-free products, warning Brussels against adopting similar measures across the bloc. The latest objections target Madrid’s updated proposal and follow…

News

Vaping to be regulated like smoking as Spain tightens health laws in 2026

Vaping in Spain is set to face its toughest regulatory reset to date, with proposed legislation that would place vapes under the same legal framework as combustible tobacco. The changes form part of a broader package of health reforms moving through Parliament,…

News

Spain’s proposed vape crackdown sparks tourism industry backlash

Spain’s planned crackdown on vaping is facing pushback from regulators and hospitality groups, with warnings that a disposable vape ban could damage competition, confuse tourists and yield little public health benefit. Regulator urges alternatives to vape ban Concerns intensified after the National…

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