Czech Health Ministry Plans Major Reform of E-Cigarettes

According to Expats.cz, the Czech Ministry of Health is planning a major reform of e-cigarettes. A new draft regulation aims to ban e-cigarettes with various flavors, which are considered appealing to non-smokers, especially children. The regulation is expected to take effect next year.

It is reported that the Czech Ministry of Health is preparing a regulation on e-cigarettes, focusing mainly on the so-called vaporization devices, which generate smoke by heating e-liquid rather than directly burning tobacco.

From cantaloupe to cola to cotton candy, there is a wide variety of e-cigarette flavors available on the market. However, according to the proposed regulations, only one flavor should be allowed: tobacco.

You could say our goal is to create an e-cigarette with a flavor similar to tobacco.

Matyas Fosum, Director of the Department of Public Health Protection at the Czech Ministry of Health, explained.

The regulation restricts specific ingredients in e-cigarettes to 16 specific substances.

“You will be creating a product with only a specific tobacco flavor. This is so complex that in fact, no manufacturer has reason to deal with this category.”

President of the Electronic Vaping Association, Robert Hrdlička, issued a warning.

Manufacturers warn that these changes could lead people to once again turn to traditional cigarettes and strengthen the growth of the black market.

We don't understand why a tariff on e-cigarettes was introduced a year ago, set to take effect on October 1, 2024, and in fact, this legislation almost indicates that e-cigarettes will be banned by September 2025.

E-cigarette manufacturer Petr Sobotka stated.

According to reports, the draft legislation was created by the Czech Ministry of Health without the knowledge of manufacturers. The Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic stated that this is just a working draft, and the final form of the legislation will still be subject to discussion.