Germany Plans to Ban Disposable E-Cigarettes

Mar.21.2023
Germany Plans to Ban Disposable E-Cigarettes
Germany plans to ban disposable e-cigarettes due to environmental concerns, with the support of the Federal Environment Minister.

The German Federal Senate has recently developed a plan to ban disposable electronic cigarettes. The plan aims to prohibit disposable e-cigarettes throughout Germany, with the Senate currently urging the federal government to consider implementing the ban. Steffi Lemke, the German Federal Environment Minister, has expressed support for the resolution.


The pressing issue of environmental pollution that needs to be addressed.


Currently, over 5 million disposable e-cigarettes are sold every month in Germany, according to data from the German E-cigarette Trade Association (VdeH). The sales revenue of e-cigarettes in the Federal Republic of Germany is expected to exceed 300 million euros by 2022. E-cigarettes are now commonly sold in supermarkets and convenience stores (Spätis), priced between 7 and 10 euros, and can provide up to 600 puffs for users.


After using disposable e-cigarettes, waste materials such as electronic waste, plastic waste, and used batteries are produced, posing environmental pollution problems. Environmentalists heavily criticize disposable e-cigarettes and condemn the huge waste of resources they cause. The e-liquid inside the device is actually heated by electricity, but lithium-ion batteries are highly flammable, which hinders their recycling.


According to sources from 2FIRSTS, German Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, who supports this resolution, is a member of the Green Party (GRÜNE). The Green Party is an environmental protection-focused political party and the world's oldest green political organization. They advocate for green politics, oppose military expansion, promote peace and anti-nuclear energy, and promote a return to a natural lifestyle.


According to a previous report by 2FIRSTS, Linda Heitmann, a member of the German Green Party, proposed restricting the supply of alcohol and cigarettes, citing them as "the most dangerous drugs to date." Gillian Mackay, a member of the Scottish Green Party, hoped that retailers would treat e-cigarettes like cigarettes and "hide" them from view.


According to reports, in January 2023, the government of the Bavarian state of Germany called for a ban on electronic cigarettes within the European Union and requested that the federal government initiate a movement at the EU level to prohibit the sale of disposable electronic cigarette products. The Bavarian state hopes to reduce the market growth of disposable electronic cigarette products and ultimately decrease the environmental pollution caused by related products through government advocacy.


Teenagers are starting to engage in the trend of using drugs.


In the past year, there has been a significant increase in the number of 14 to 17 year-olds in Germany using e-cigarettes. In a recent representative survey, 15.9% of adolescents in Germany admitted to smoking.


The nicotine levels in electronic cigarettes may be higher than those in traditional cigarettes. Christina Schadt, head of the addiction prevention organization Suchtprävention Berlin, told Stern: "Young people who have not yet smoked are learning about smoking through these products. The sweet taste and smoothness of e-cigarettes give them a false impression that they are consuming something harmless.


Further reading:


The German Green Party proposed restrictions on the sale of tobacco and alcohol.


The era of strict regulation for electronic cigarettes has arrived in Germany. Multiple shops are being inspected.


Reference:


Germany is considering banning disposable e-cigarettes in the near future.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

New Zealand Associate Health Minister Casey Costello Warns on Illicit Cigarettes as Legal Tobacco Sales Halve Over Decade
New Zealand Associate Health Minister Casey Costello Warns on Illicit Cigarettes as Legal Tobacco Sales Halve Over Decade
New Zealand Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said legal tobacco sales in the country have fallen by more than half over the past decade, with sales declining more than 20% in 2025 compared with the previous year. She warned that the decline may not fully reflect lower smoking rates, as increased availability of illicit cigarettes could also be contributing. The government said it would continue strengthening tobacco and vape retail enforcement while monitoring the impact of illicit tobacco on public health and tax revenue.
Aug.26
South Korea Fully Reviews Nicotine-Analog and Nicotine-Free Vape Liquid Imports, With Over 99% From China and Chinese Supply-Chain Documents Under Scrutiny
South Korea Fully Reviews Nicotine-Analog and Nicotine-Free Vape Liquid Imports, With Over 99% From China and Chinese Supply-Chain Documents Under Scrutiny
Korea Customs Service has tightened import controls on nicotine-analog and nicotine-free e-cigarette liquids, placing the products under 100% document review and subjecting all e-cigarette liquid import declarations to pre-clearance ingredient analysis. As of September 20, 2026, South Korea had imported about 15 metric tons of nicotine-analog liquids, 99.99% from China, and about 316 metric tons of nicotine-free liquids, including roughly 315 metric tons, or 99.7%, from China. The measures follow South Korea's April expansion of its tobacco definition to include synthetic nicotine products and include new checks on Chinese manufacturing, transaction and export documentation.
Sep.24
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
UK Vape Duty Starts in October as Hayati, DOJO and Others Launch Lower-Capacity Products With Lower Per-Unit Tax
The UK's Vaping Products Duty will take effect on October 1, 2026, at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid. Ahead of implementation, DOJO, PIXL and Hayati have introduced or been reported to be adding lower-capacity tiers alongside larger products. DOJO has added a 6ml BLAST7K Fresh below its 10ml BLAST10K Fresh, PIXL offers both a 12ml 8000 and a 6ml 5K, while retailer Ninja Vapes says Hayati is preparing a 7ml 4K alongside its existing 12ml 6K. The pattern points to a growing lower-capacity tier in the UK market, although the brands have not all explicitly linked the changes to the new duty.
Sep.23
China Tobacco Hubei explores staged nicotine pouch delivery, using dynamic membranes to slow early release and gradient particles to sustain later delivery
China Tobacco Hubei explores staged nicotine pouch delivery, using dynamic membranes to slow early release and gradient particles to sustain later delivery
China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Co., Ltd. disclosed several oral nicotine-related patent applications in August 2026, including two that approach staged nicotine release from different directions. One uses a high-viscosity membrane that forms inside the pouch after contact with saliva to slow rapid early release, while the other uses gradient particles with a faster-disintegrating outer layer and a slower core to create a fast-to-sustained release profile. Together, the filings explore how nicotine pouches could balance initial delivery with release later in use.
Sep.03
UK PM Andy Burnham Reshapes Vape Retail Rules as Licensing Could Raise Barriers for New Shops
UK PM Andy Burnham Reshapes Vape Retail Rules as Licensing Could Raise Barriers for New Shops
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is pushing a high street reform agenda that could give local authorities greater powers over commercial activity, including vape retail. The reforms could involve expanded planning powers and a potential vape retail licensing system, allowing councils to play a larger role in store locations and market access. The measures are part of the UK’s broader shift toward tighter vape regulation, although no nationwide vape retail restrictions have yet been implemented.
Aug.11
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
According to Law360 on August 31, 2026, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a patent sublicense between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. relieves Reynolds of its obligation to continue paying royalties to Altria Client Services LLC over Vuse Alto. A jury had previously found that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents and awarded approximately $95.2 million in past damages, after which Reynolds was ordered to pay an ongoing royalty equal to 5.25% of positive net sales. The new ruling finds that a valid sublicense can eliminate future infringement, potentially ending what Altria described as hundreds of millions of dollars in future royalties.
Sep.01