Belgium to Ban Sale of Disposable E-Cigarettes in 2025

Dec.20.2024

Belgium launches nationwide campaign to crack down on smoking, targeting e-cigarettes as entry point for young smokers.

According to a report by Reuters on December 19th, the Belgian government has recently launched a nationwide campaign to combat smoking. Government data shows that the majority of young smokers in Belgium are starting with e-cigarettes rather than traditional cigarettes.

According to reports, Belgium will become the first European Union country to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes starting in January 2025.

Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke told Reuters that...

The design of disposable e-cigarettes is intended to attract young people and entice new users who may have never smoked before. E-cigarettes are appealing to a new generation of smokers.

While supporters of e-cigarettes believe they can help people quit traditional cigarettes, health authorities are concerned about their colorful designs and appealing flavors that attract children. Belgian law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18.

According to a survey conducted by the World Health Organization in 2022, which involved 20,000 Belgian teenagers aged 11 to 18, the results showed that 12% of respondents had used an e-cigarette in the 30 days prior to the survey. This proportion is double that of 2018.

Germany and France are in the process of drafting similar laws, while the UK, which is no longer a member of the EU, has announced a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes starting in June 2025. Belgium hopes that its ban will also reduce the environmental impact of disposing of disposable e-cigarettes containing plastics, chemicals, and non-rechargeable batteries.

References:

[1] Belgium to become first EU country to ban disposable vape sales

Also Read:

[1] Cimabel and Philip Morris Benelux Joint Initiative to Prevent Youth Access to Tobacco and Vaping Products

[2] Belgium's Nicotine Pouch Ban Fails to Curb Illegal Sales, Retailers Non-Compliant

[3] Belgium Eyes Stricter Penalties as 70% of Retailers Break Tobacco Sales Ban

[4] Belgium to Strengthen Regulation on Tobacco and E-cigarette Sales

[5] Belgium to Ban Sales of Disposable E-Cigarettes from 2025

#Europe #Legislation #Disposable e-cigarettes #Belgium

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

Vietnam's tobacco tax reform receives WHO award, projected to boost annual revenue by $900 million

The WHO Western Pacific Regional Director recently presented the WHO Global Award to Vietnamese Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan. The tax reforms in the newly revised 2025 Special Consumption Tax Law will enable 2.1 million people in Vietnam to quit or not start smoking by 2031, and will also generate an additional VND24 trillion (US$910 million) in annual state revenue.

Sep.28

Australia NSW Police Crack Down on Illicit Tobacco Syndicate Under Strike Force Franklin

NSW Police, together with NSW Health and the Australian Border Force, seized more than 18,000 vapes, 1.9 million cigarettes, 74kg of loose-leaf tobacco and five unregistered firearms during a week of action under Strike Force Franklin. Four people were charged following coordinated raids on the Far North Coast. Police said the operation targeted organised crime networks profiting from illicit tobacco sales, with an estimated street value exceeding $2.35 million(1.54 million US dollars)..

Nov.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai

PMI Urges South Africa to Differentiate Smoke-Free Products from Cigarettes

South Africa is drafting new tobacco legislation aimed at reducing smoking-related deaths and promoting harm reduction.PMI said smoke-free products such as nicotine pouches and heated devices could play a critical role in reducing harm. Patrik Hildingsson, PMI’s director for oral products communications, said South Africa is developing a new regulatory framework to recognise and regulate smoke-free products, calling it a “big change” for the industry.

Oct.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Tobacco harm reduction advocates criticize COP11 for limiting public participation and call for inclusion of harm reduction products in discussions

The Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP11) will convene in Geneva in November to discuss global tobacco control policies. Tobacco harm reduction advocates worry that the meeting may only avoid further policy damage without achieving substantive progress. They point out that COP11 limits public participation and call for strengthened discussion on safe nicotine products.