Lithuania has implemented a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes as of July 1, in an effort to reduce their appeal to younger generations.
Photograph by freepik.com.
A month ago, Lithuania implemented a revision to the Tobacco, Smoking and Related Products Control Act (TPCT), which now prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes and flavored electronic cigarettes.
The proposed amendment to this law was drafted by Mykolas Mayauskas, a parliamentary member of the Conservative Party. Mayauskas commented to the media upon introducing the draft amendment, stating that the issue at hand is clearly the availability of affordable e-cigarettes that are appealing to minors.
During the drafting of an amendment bill, a parliament member referred to a 2018 Lithuanian amendment. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, a research initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) monitoring adolescent health and lifestyle in various countries, was used as reference. In 2018, over 4,000 school children participated in the HBSC study conducted in Lithuania, which confirmed the popularity of electronic cigarettes among minors.
According to a study, 38.5% of students in grades five, seven, and nine were smoking in 2018, compared to only 24% in 2014. During the study, 17.9% of those surveyed reported using e-cigarettes within the past 30 days. The participants in the study included 5% of fifth-grade students, 18% of seventh-grade students, and 31% of ninth-grade students.
The special harm inflicted upon young people.
The Ministry of Health in Lithuania, which oversees healthcare policy, is actively evaluating the ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. According to Julianas Galishanskis, chief expert at the ministry's press service, the amendment to the law aims to reduce the appeal and demand for e-cigarettes, especially among young people who are strongly attracted to flavored products. This is important as Lithuania is seeing an increase in e-cigarette consumption, particularly among young people.
At the request of the European Commission (EC), the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) issued a scientific opinion on e-cigarettes in 2021. "SCHEER concluded that there is moderate evidence to suggest that the use of e-cigarettes is one of the factors that leads young people to start smoking. There is convincing evidence that nicotine in e-liquid is linked to addiction, and that flavorings greatly enhance the appeal of e-cigarettes and the decision to start using them," a representative of the department quoted SCHEER as saying.
In 2021, the EU's report on the implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive also highlighted the dangers of flavored electronic cigarettes, stating that "irrefutable evidence suggests that the aroma substances in electronic cigarettes are attractive to both young people and adults. These fragrances have a significant impact on young people, as they suppress awareness of harmful effects and increase the desire to try such products. More and more member states are banning the use of fragrances in electronic cigarettes.
According to the Ministry of Health, several EU countries including Finland, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Hungary have decided to ban electronic cigarettes with different scents and flavors. In the United States, a federal ban on flavored nicotine liquids is currently being discussed.
Representatives of the regulatory body overseeing the sale of e-cigarettes acknowledge that they do not have full control over the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Vendors may alter various labels to evade restrictions. Additionally, controlling online transactions is often more difficult than traditional transactions.
The electronic cigarette market in Lithuania is regulated by the State Consumer Protection Agency (GSPP). According to Milda Deimante, Senior Advisor for International Relations and Public Relations, legal entities and branches of foreign legal entities can be fined between 500 and 1000 euros for violating CCT. If these requirements are repeatedly violated within a year of the first fine, fines of between 100,000 and 200,000 euros can be imposed. As a measure of influence, GSZPP also cites the fact that violators are publicly announced on the GSPP website and social media.
Additionally, for foreign legal entities or subsidiary organizations that have been granted permission to engage in the production, wholesale, and/or retail of tobacco products but violate established requirements, failure to rectify these violations within the specified timeframe and failing to notify Deimante will result in consequences.
One of the measures adopted by GSZPP to crackdown on violators is unscheduled inspections. "Currently, SCPP is conducting unscheduled inspections of electronic cigarettes and e-cigarette fillings (including liquids used to fill e-cigarettes) in all regions of Lithuania to determine if these products meet TKZ requirements, including the prohibition of odor. 28 samples have been selected for further research," said V. Deimante.
Choose alternative products.
Although scented electronic cigarettes have not completely disappeared from the shelves of the Lithuanian market and e-commerce sites after the ban took effect, representatives from organizations hoping to control this trade believe that measures taken over time will be effective and these cigarettes will eventually be forgotten like mint and menthol-flavored cigarettes. Two years ago, starting from June 2020, their sale was prohibited in Lithuania and throughout the European Union. Since then, any cigarette containing menthol has been illegal. These bans were based on the claim that menthol darkens the taste of tobacco, thus encouraging its use. It is estimated that at the time, menthol cigarettes accounted for more than 3% of the market share. Although there were initially violations of the ban on the sale of such cigarettes, enthusiasts eventually turned to other products and may have ultimately forgotten the smell and taste of menthol cigarettes.
What do fans of these cigarettes choose, and what do fans of flavored e-cigarettes choose? Some may have completely kicked the habit. However, as social media reports show, many who previously smoked flavored e-cigarettes after the ban have turned to heated tobacco products, which are often promoted as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spent two years studying new products such as the Iqos tobacco heating device before approving their use. It has been determined that harmful substances released during tobacco heating are significantly less compared to traditional cigarettes. For instance, the carcinogenic and disease-causing resins are reduced by 90-95% during tobacco heating compared to conventional cigarettes. Therefore, the US decided that selling these products will help protect public health and allow for their sale.
For years, Lithuania has been selling only the "Iqos" brand of heated tobacco products. This year, the Glo heated tobacco product has also entered the domestic market, causing a stir in the market. Glo entered the market with a slightly different technological solution and pricing.
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