Market & regulatory data for the vaping sector in Europe

24th April 2024: EU: Yesterday (23rd April), the European Parliament adopted the proposal for a directive on common rules promoting the repair of goods. The proposal seeks to introduce consumer incentives to repair products rather than replace them, promoting a circular economy. We believe this would force manufacturers or sellers to have repair facilities in order to repair devices, beyond the legal guarantee period, so as to allow their use for a longer period of time. Moreover, it should enable the replacement of defective vaping/heating devices with refurbished or second-hand ones, rather than a new one. The proposal should be approved next by the Council to be published in the EU Official Journal.
24th April 2024: Russia: Bill 512729-8, which would require e-cigarettes (including nicotine-free e-cigarettes) to be marked with digital tax stamps, has been signed by the president. The provision is expected to come into force one month after the date of its publication in the country’s official gazette.
24th April 2024: Azerbaijan: Yesterday (23rd April), the parliament adopted the amendment to the law “On Tobacco and Tobacco Products” in the first reading, 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.
24th April 2024: UK: The parliamentary under-secretary for health and social care, Andrea Leadsom, said yesterday (23rd April) that the Department of Health and Social Care is working with the National Health Service Better Health website to provide advice to people who want to quit vaping. “Vaping can be an effective tool for adult smokers to quit smoking. However, the health advice is clear, if you don’t smoke, don’t vape, and children should never vape,” she added. Further ways, as part of the national Swap to Stop programme, to support people who want to give up vaping are also being explored.
23rd April 2024: Azerbaijan: Tahir Mirkishili, a member of the National Assembly (parliament) from the governing New Azerbaijan Party, said in the plenary that the use of e-cigarettes among young people is very common in Azerbaijan, media reports. Mirkishili said many countries have prohibited vaping, and if necessary, the parliamentary committees will investigate and prepare a proposal to ban e-cigarettes in Azerbaijan.
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.

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