The Great COP Debate

Those who follow the vaping news might remember the debacle that turned out to be COP 10. Not only did the world Health Organization (WHO) provide source less, anonymous, and fabricated information regarding vape device use to all the member states present, it also refused to allow international vape organisations the chance to participate in the talks.

As we move towards COP 11, the Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) are appealing to WHO to be allowed to attend. The Conference of the Parties last year was rescheduled after trouble in Panama where it was due to be held. The rescheduling did nothing to assuage the vape industry, who were not invited to the talks which covered their products and livelihoods.

Will COP11 be a repeat performance? Here is what we know so far.

CAPHRA and WHO Don’t Get On

First things are first, this is not the only time that CAPHRA and WHO have butted heads over the issue of the world health advice on vape device use. After COP10 Caphra made it extremely plain that they were less than impressed with the sources of information WHO used during the talks. They even tried to have one piece of ‘evidence’ overthrown.

This year, CAPHRA aim to rectify the problem by pleading for an invite to the talks, so that they can share their views. Remember, CAPHRA are a smoking harm reduction group not a vaping organisation. That they would be left out of the talks seems less like an oversight and more like bribery.

When is COP 11?

COP11 is running for the week of the 17^th of November 2025. The conference will take place at the Geneva International Conference Centre this coming year. The talks govern the WHO Framework for Tobacco Control. This means that all information discussed and views given will go towards discerning what the official World Health Organisation stance is on vaping.

In turn, this stance will govern any advice that WHO issue regarding vapes. Last year, when the anonymous report filled with vaping myths was submitted as a factual document in their listed sources, the Organisation caused global outrage.

Can Anyone Attend COP11?

No, unfortunately not. The conference is closed and opens only to global leaders and those who have been invited to attend. This is why CAPHRA are stating a claim to be invited now, so that WHO have plenty of time to turn them down and offer up some suitable, theoretically feeble excuse not to invite them.

Will COP11 Change Vape Legislation?

It is possible that COP11 will contribute to governments reassessing their vape legislation. Although WHO have no authority to make rules themselves, they can issue advice which is often acknowledged as globally accepted methods to protect the populace from harm.

You would think, with harm reduction as their focus, that this would anger far fewer people.

Buy Vapes Online in the UK

You can still buy disposable vapes through Vape Direct until the ban comes into place. We advise all our clients to stock up on disposables and to work on switching to a vape device which is reusable before the ban comes into place.