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

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.”
10th April 2024: Slovenia: Amendments to the Act Restricting the Use of Tobacco and Related Products to bring nicotine-free e-cigarettes in line with nicotine-containing ones and to prohibit non-tobacco flavours in all e-cigarettes were published in the Official Gazette yesterday, 9th April. Flavoured e-cigarettes may be placed on the market for a maximum of 12 months after the entry into force of the law, which is on 24th April (15 days after its publication).
10th April 2024: Russia: Bill 512729-8 – which would require e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free ones, to be marked with digital tax stamps – has passed its third reading in the State Duma (a lower chamber of parliament) and now goes to the Federal Assembly (upper chamber of parliament). The provision is expected to come into force one month after the date of its official publication.
9th April 2024: Russia: State Duma deputies from small political parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and New People, have drafted a proposal aiming to introduce a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free e-liquids, media reports. As explained by deputy Yaroslav Nilov, who is one of the developers of the proposal, the process of collecting signatures under the relevant initiative has now been organised, and the proposal will soon be submitted to the State Duma (lower chamber of the parliament) for consideration. In January 2022, a similar proposal introducing a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes was submitted to the parliament; however, the proposal was not supported.
9th April 2024: Slovakia: The government will seek to consolidate public finances next year, media reports. This would include a tobacco tax increase as well as the introduction of e-cig and nicotine pouch taxation in 2025. These measures would need to be approved by the parliament.
9th April 2024: Spain: The Ministry of Health has launched a public consultation on an amendment to decree 579/2017, which regulates e-cigarettes and tobacco products. It aims to address various aspects of the regulations – including ingredients, packaging, and exposure to vaping products – and to regulate nicotine-free e-cigs. The amendment is expected to introduce neutral packaging. Ideas and proposals can be sent to consultapublicatabaquismo@sanidad.gob.es until 23rd April.
8th April 2024: France: The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) has published an updated list of notified e-cigarettes. The total number of vapour products included is 153,778.
8th April 2024: Azerbaijan: The Parliament Committee on Agrarian Policy has discussed the amendment to the law “On Tobacco and Tobacco Products”, media reports. It seeks to establish a procedure for registering business entities importing and producing tobacco products, as well as maintaining and regulating the register. In addition, the introduction of an AZN150 ($88) fee to provide business entities with an extract from the register is planned.

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