E-cigarettes in Europe: data on market trends and the regulatory landscape - ECigIntelligence

19th April 2024: Slovakia: The Ministry of Finance has submitted a draft amendment to the Act on Excise Tax on Tobacco Products to the interdepartmental comment procedure, media reports. The amendment seeks to tax e-liquids and nicotine pouches starting next year. The tax would gradually increase in the following years.
19th April 2024: UK: Answering a written question on the impacts of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, parliamentary under-secretary for health and social care Andrea Leadsom said yesterday (18th April) that “we must strike the right balance between reducing the appeal of vapes to children while ensuring vapes remain attractive and available to adult smokers as a quit aid”. She also reminded that further consultation will take place before introducing any regulations and that the intention is to hold the consultation before the dissolution of the parliament for the next elections.
19th April 2024: Denmark: The Consumer Ombudsman has fined the company Gejser DKK10,000 (€1,340) for advertising electronic cigarettes and refill containers by using positively charged phrases and claims to promote products sold online. Examples of statements on the company’s website included: “Calculate how much money you can save by quitting smoking” and “Large selection of electronic cigarettes: We have gathered the best equipment from the industry – Everything you need to quit smoking”. According to the Consumer Ombudsman, only neutral information and the price of electronic cigarettes can be given when selling these products online – the same information that appears on the product packaging.
18th April 2024: Russia: Bill 512729-8 has been passed by the Federal Assembly (upper chamber of parliament) and now goes to the president. The bill would require e-cigarettes, including those without nicotine, to be marked with digital tax stamps. The provision is expected to come into force one month after the date of its publication in the country’s official gazette.
17th April 2024: UK: The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was approved yesterday (16th April) in the House of Commons (lower parliamentary chamber) on a second reading, with 379 votes in favour and 65 votes against. All present Labour members of parliament (MPs) voted in favour, alongside most of the Conservatives MPs. A group of more than 50 Conservative MPs led the resistance against the bill, showing the division within the Conservative party over prime minister Rishi Sunak’s policy. Most of the criticism from the opposing group of MPs – which include five ministers and former prime minister Liz Truss – mainly concerns the generational ban on tobacco products that the bill proposes, arguing that the bill goes against Conservative values. The bill’s call for evidence has been launched, and will now undergo the Public Bill Committee’s scrutiny until 23rd May 2024.
17th April 2024: Lithuania: Yesterday (16th April), during the plenary session, the Seimas (parliament) rejected the amendment to the Tobacco Law seeking to allow the sale of e-cigarettes and their refills only in pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription, media reports. The plenary agreed to the stance of the Parliament Health Affairs Committee, which recently proposed not to support the amendment.
16th April 2024: Netherlands: A decree from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) amending the Tobacco and Smoking Products decree that prohibits sales of tobacco and related products in supermarkets and catering establishments from 1st July 2024 has been officially published. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has provided more details of the ban.
15th April 2024: Italy: Following amendments to the Single Text on Excises approved in December 2023 to implement the nicotine-free products excise tax rate on flavoured liquid substances used to prepare e-liquids starting 1st May 2024, the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) amended the Circular 83685/RU. These products will be required to bear tax stamps and be registered with the ADM. Manufacturers or importers will have to establish an excise tax warehouse. Manufacturers, importers and distributors have until 31st July 2024 to sell off remaining stocks, while the deadline for retailers has yet to be determined. It appears that glycol and glycerol will be exempt from taxation, pending clarification of the provision’s scope in a forthcoming circular from the ADM.
15th April 2024: Finland: The Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention (EHYT) conducted an online survey in January with 1,008 Finns aged between 15 and 29 participating. It showed that the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches has increased among young people, whereas the use of tobacco and snuff has remained unchanged, media reports.
11th April 2024: Albania: The Ministry of Justice and a member of parliament from the ruling Socialist Party have submitted a bill to amend the Tobacco Act. The main aim of the provisions is to comply with EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) standards. The bill extends tobacco advertising restrictions to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and bans all forms of sponsorship and advertising, except for technical and industry publications. It also increases penalties for those who sell or give away products to under-18s. The bill still needs to be approved by the parliament.
10th April 2024: UK: An animal tranquilliser, xylazine, has been found in cannabis vapes in the UK, according to a study widely reported in the British press; however, no nicotine vape has been found to contain such a drug. In reaction, a government spokesperson said: “We are aware of the threat from xylazine and are determined to protect people from the threat posed by this drug and other illicit synthetic drugs.”

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