E-cigarettes in Hungary

Hungary: Following an investigation into two Slovak companies selling Elf Bars online, the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has ordered the temporary shutdown of two Hungarian-language websites “to ensure that the businesses’ – presumably illegal – commercial practices cannot reach domestic customers during the GVH’s investigation”. Flavoured vaping products, online e-cigarette sales, and online advertising of vaping products are all illegal in Hungary.

Hungary: The Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Activities (SZFTH) has provided ECigIntelligence with figures showing that sales of e-liquids grew steadily in 2017, 2018 and 2019 but began to fall with the introduction of a flavour ban in May 2020. Sales slid from 16,000 l in 2019 to 12,400 l in 2020, 9,500 l in 2021 and 4,200 liters in the five-month period from 1st January to 31st May 2022.

Hungary: The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) yesterday launched an investigation into two Slovak companies selling Elf Bars online. The GVH said: “The companies presumably give the false impression on their websites that the products can be legally marketed, despite the fact that the distance selling of both nicotine-containing and nicotine-free flavoured electronic cigarettes is prohibited in Hungary.” Hungary’s Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH) recently issued an alert that the sale of Elf Bars, flavoured disposable e-cigarettes, was illegal.

Hungary: The Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH) published an announcement today about a new, un-notified brand of flavoured disposable e-cigarettes whose usage is widespread among minors – despite flavoured e-cigarettes being banned in Hungary. The SZTFH says it is cracking down and that in recent weeks it has seized HUF135m ($354,000) worth of Elf Bars.