German Enforcers Seriously Clamp Down on Vape Exhibitiors

On May 7th, the e-cigarette exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany, entered its second day, with German Zoll (German for "Custom") officers continuing to enforce the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulations on e-cigarettes and vape liquids.

The enforcement staff began inspecting e-cigarette exhibitors' booths for proper documentation and tax labels on e-cigarette products from the start of the event. Products without tax labels were confiscated, and exhibitors were fined €800 ($906).

Other exhibitors report that two exhibitors were removed from the exhibition site by police for refusing to cooperate with the €800 fine requirement. Their identities are not yet known.

Products at the exhibition must comply with the TPD, which limits disposable e-cigarette liquid capacity to 2 milliliters, equivalent to around 600 puffs. Non-compliant products are not allowed to be displayed or sold. German law enforcement specifically looks such violations and products with no proof of paid tax.

The ongoing exhibition reflects Germany's recent strict enforcement on e-cigarettes. Yesterday, customs police confiscated all products from stall E04, a brand known as "Juice N Power."

Germany decided to tax e-cigarette liquids on August 10th, 2021, with a transition period until June 30th, 2022. To allow dealers to handle inventory, the transition period was extended to February 12th, 2023. With the transition period now over, Germany has begun enforcing tax compliance for e-cigarettes.

The German Federal Council has also developed a plan to ban disposable e-cigarettes. The plan proposes a nationwide ban on disposable e-cigarettes, and the council is urging the federal government to consider implementing the ban.