German Medical Association Calls for Ban on Disposable E-cigarettes

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Nov.20.2023
German Medical Association Calls for Ban on Disposable E-cigarettes
German doctors in North Rhine-Westphalia call for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes due to health concerns and environmental pollution.

According to a report from Zeit, the medical association of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany has advocated for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes at a meeting held in Dusseldorf on November 18th.

 

The association points out that when e-liquid is heated, it produces aerosols that may harm the heart and respiratory system, as well as potentially trigger respiratory diseases and allergies. In addition, disposable e-cigarettes are typically discarded in regular trash bins rather than electronic waste recycling stations. Consequently, the plastic, metal, and lithium-ion batteries that come with them cause significant environmental pollution.

 

The association is calling for an immediate prohibition or at least restrictions on the production and sale of disposable e-cigarettes. According to the association's report, sales of e-cigarettes and disposable e-cigarettes have increased by 40% between 2021 and 2022.

 

Association President Rudolf Heng stated that the various shapes and vibrant colors of e-cigarettes primarily attract adolescent consumers. He called on legislators to better protect children, teenagers, and pregnant women from the harms of secondhand smoke.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Australia’s One Nation Proposes 75% Tobacco Tax Cut, Says Lower Prices Could Hit Illicit Market
Australia’s One Nation Proposes 75% Tobacco Tax Cut, Says Lower Prices Could Hit Illicit Market
Australia’s One Nation party has proposed cutting tobacco excise by 75%, arguing that lower legal cigarette prices could narrow the gap with illicit tobacco and reduce demand for black-market products. The proposal comes as Australia continues expanding enforcement against illicit tobacco supply chains through border controls, retail inspections and organised-crime investigations. Supporters argue high taxes have contributed to illicit-market growth, while opponents warn that lower tobacco prices could undermine public-health goals. The proposal is a party policy position and has not been adopted by the Australian government.
Aug.18
 PMI Opens Generative AI Center in Portugal to Support Global Operations
PMI Opens Generative AI Center in Portugal to Support Global Operations
According to information released by Portugal’s Trade & Investment Agency (AICEP) in July 2026, Philip Morris International (PMI) has established a global Generative Artificial Intelligence Factory (GenAI Factory) at its Portuguese subsidiary Tabaqueira. The center will support PMI’s global operations by developing and deploying AI solutions focused on industrial process optimization, data analytics, operational automation and AI application development. The initiative strengthens Portugal’s role in PMI’s global technology and innovation network.
Aug.27
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
Philip Morris International has published its first report aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, bringing its electronics supply chain and the use and end-of-life stages of smoke-free devices and consumables into its nature-related assessment. PMI said its smoke-free business accounted for about 42% of total net revenues in the second quarter of 2026. The report says non-circular electronic products, particularly single-use items, can increase consumption of limited natural resources and also details an IQOS repair pilot. A 2040 circularity scenario tests assumptions including a 50% reduction in product waste-related costs, 10% raw-material savings and a 25% substitution rate for refurbished products versus new products.
Sep.23
German Tobacco Tax Revenue Falls 10.8% Through August as Tax-Paid Cigarette Volume Drops 12.6%
German Tobacco Tax Revenue Falls 10.8% Through August as Tax-Paid Cigarette Volume Drops 12.6%
Germany collected €9.789 billion in total tobacco tax revenue from January through August 2026, down 10.8% from a year earlier, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance. Germany's tobacco tax base covers not only cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco but also heated tobacco and vaping liquids taxed as tobacco substitutes. The German Association of the Tobacco Industry and Novel Products, or BVTE, citing federal statistical data, said tax-paid cigarette volume fell 12.6% to 40.6 billion sticks. BVTE is using the latest figures to argue against further tax increases planned from 2027 through 2030, while Germany's parliament is scheduled to hold a first reading of the bill on September 24.
Sep.23
Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canadian Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she is not considering loosening retail restrictions on nicotine pouches. Canada regulates pouches containing 4 mg or less of nicotine per unit as non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy and requires newer NRT formats such as pouches to be sold from behind pharmacy counters. Meanwhile, Unsmoke Canada, linked to Philip Morris International's Canadian business, is pushing to allow pouches in convenience stores and other general retail outlets. Health Canada also acknowledges continued unauthorized sales, while recent research shows rising pouch use among Canadian youth aged 16 to 19.
Sep.24
FDA Authorizes JUUL2, Cites Adult Switching Amid Efforts to Speed PMTA Reviews
FDA Authorizes JUUL2, Cites Adult Switching Amid Efforts to Speed PMTA Reviews
The FDA authorized the JUUL2 device and tobacco- and menthol-flavored pods on Aug. 28, bringing the number of authorized e-cigarette products to 48. The agency highlighted complete switching among adult smokers, with six-week switching rates reaching 28.4%–49.3% for the menthol pod. The decision comes as FDA works to speed PMTA reviews, reduce application backlogs and expand authorized e-cigarette and nicotine-pouch products while maintaining enforcement priorities for unauthorized products.
Regulations
Aug.29