The three-day ECTC 2026 conference brings together international experts to discuss protecting children from nicotine addiction amid the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and other emerging products.

Istanbul is hosting the 11th European Conference on Tobacco Control (ECTC 2026) from 4 to 6 November, bringing together policymakers, academics, health professionals and civil society representatives to discuss strategies for protecting children and young people from nicotine addiction.

Organised by the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP), in cooperation with the Turkish Green Crescent Society and the International Federation of Green Crescent, the conference is being held under the theme “Protecting Children from Nicotine Addiction”.

The event focuses on the changing nicotine market, the growing availability of new-generation products and the need for stronger prevention, education and regulatory measures to protect younger generations.

At the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Turkish Green Crescent President Mehmet Dinç warned that e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches were being promoted to young people through attractive flavours, packaging and digital marketing.

“Products are changing, marketing methods are changing, but the industry's goal remains the same: to create and sustain nicotine addiction,” Dinç said, stressing that children's health must take precedence over commercial interests.

He also highlighted the importance of international cooperation and science-based policies, calling for stronger efforts to prevent nicotine addiction before it takes hold.

The conference comes amid growing concern over nicotine consumption among adolescents, particularly through e-cigarettes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Region has the highest rate of adolescent e-cigarette use globally. An estimated 14.3 percent of 13- to 15-year-olds in the region use e-cigarettes, while 11.6 percent use some form of tobacco.

The WHO has warned that young people are significantly more likely than adults to use e-cigarettes, citing appealing flavours, product designs and social media marketing among the factors contributing to their popularity.

A WHO report published in October 2025 also found that approximately 173 million people in the European Region used tobacco in 2024, representing 24.1 percent of the adult population.

Türkiye's experience in tobacco control is also expected to feature prominently in discussions.

Speaking at the conference, Mehmet Dinç cited findings from the Green Crescent's 2025 Türkiye Tobacco Report, saying that people seeking support for smoking through its counselling centres had started smoking at an average age below 17. Around 63 percent had begun smoking before turning 18.

He called for early intervention, professional support for people seeking to quit and stronger implementation of existing regulations.

Türkiye has established restrictions on the production, import and sale of e-cigarettes and several other emerging nicotine products. However, illegal sales and online access remain enforcement challenges, particularly for children and young people.

Other sessions at ECTC 2026 are examining the health effects of e-cigarettes, disposable vapes and other emerging nicotine products, as well as industry marketing strategies and ways to strengthen tobacco-control policies.

The programme also includes discussions on the risks nicotine poses to the developing brain, international cooperation and the role of young people in prevention efforts.

The conference is expected to conclude with the publication of the ENSP-ECTC Istanbul 2026 Declaration, setting out recommendations for protecting future generations from nicotine addiction. (ILKHA)