German environment ministry urges EU-wide ban on disposable e-cigarettes

According to a recent report by Hasepost, following the UK's plan to ban the use of disposable e-cigarettes from 2025, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) is now pushing for the establishment of related regulations across the entire European Union. The BMUV stated that the German Environmental Aid Organization (DUH) is also supporting this initiative, emphasizing the impact of these products on the environment and the health risks they pose to young people.

A spokesperson from BMUV pointed out in an interview that in order to effectively regulate e-cigarettes, unified rules need to be implemented across the entire European Union market to avoid potential loopholes. He emphasized that:

Only in this way can these products be prevented from entering prohibited countries through other EU member states.

A spokesperson for the BMUV stated that disposable e-cigarettes should be banned from entering the market due to their extremely harmful environmental impact. "Their environmental performance is extremely poor: both the battery and e-liquid cannot be replaced," he pointed out, Furthermore, consumers often do not realize that they are electronic devices, leading to improper disposal. Improperly disposed of disposable e-cigarettes can potentially cause fires in sorting facilities, posing environmental pollution problems.

According to reports, the German government has recently passed a revised version of the "Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act" in early October. Under this law, retailers selling disposable e-cigarettes will be required to take responsibility for collecting and recycling these products. A spokesperson for the BMUV added, "Disposable e-cigarettes are considered electronic devices and should be properly disposed of when no longer in use." The revised legislation is currently under review in the federal council.

Meanwhile, Barbara Metz, the federal executive director of DUH, emphasized that a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes is the only correct way to protect the environment, especially the health of young people. Metz stated that these e-cigarettes are "completely unnecessary and environmentally harmful products" and pointed out that consumption in Germany exceeds five million per week. She criticized the current government's proposed recycling regulations as "completely inadequate.