European Commission backs Belgian ban on disposable e-cigarettes
The European Commission has announced its approval of a Belgian law banning the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes, Euractiv reports. The proposed ban should help the country meet its target of reducing the number of smokers aged 15-24 to a maximum of 6 per cent by 2028.
The Belgian government unveiled its interfederal strategy for a tobacco-free generation at the end of 2022. As part of its anti-smoking strategy, Belgium decided to completely ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes from 1 January 2026. Disposable cigarettes are mainly bought by younger smokers.
However, under European law, Belgium had to seek approval from the Commission to proceed with its initiative. Earlier this week, the Commission gave the green light for the new law to be approved.
"This decision is good news for the health of Belgians, for Belgium and for the protection of the environment"
For now, the proposed law only targets products containing nicotine, although the government would have preferred a wider ban that would have included nicotine-free e-cigarettes. "This decision is good news for the health of Belgians, for Belgium and for the protection of the environment," French MP Francesca Pasquini, who is working on a similar bill in France, told Euractiv.
France, Germany and Ireland are working on similar anti-smoking laws.
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