SOVAPE Disbands: Impact on the E-Cigarette Community

According to a recent report by Vaping 360, the French e-cigarette organization SOVAPE announced this week that it will be dissolving.

It is reported that SOVAPE has been active in the e-cigarette industry since 2016, gaining recognition for hosting three editions of the French e-cigarette summit from 2016 to 2019. The organization is also a co-founder of the European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA) alliance.

Since 2019, SOVAPE has commissioned the well-known market research company BVA to survey the French public's opinion on e-cigarettes and nicotine. However, this year (2024), BVA informed SOVAPE that due to a contract with a health industry client prohibiting BVA from collaborating with organizations associated with nicotine, BVA will no longer be involved.

The sudden cancellation of this survey, coupled with recent news reports accusing SOVAPE and other consumer organizations of being linked to the tobacco industry, has led to attacks on scientists and health professionals supporting SOVAPE. On October 6, SOVAPE announced on its official website that "the review, threats, lies, defamation, as well as the spread of fake news and denial of scientific data have created an atmosphere that makes it impossible to sustain this mission." The association announced its dissolution.

SOVAPE has decided to donate its remaining funds to the Pasteur Institute, as well as other e-cigarette organizations AIDUCE and La Vape du Cœur. In addition, SOVAPE has covered the costs to ensure its website remains available for the next 10 years, and has preserved the relevant videos of e-cigarette summit on its YouTube channel.

We regret that we can no longer continue the dialogue to promote methods that reduce the risk of disease prevention and premature death. We do not regret trying, but we must acknowledge that we can no longer continue this crucial fight for us. However, our efforts have already made a contribution to saving lives!