Market & legal data for the vapour sector in Switzerland

28th November 2024: Switzerland: The canton of Valais has banned disposable e-cigarettes through an amendment to its health law, due to their easy availability and environmental impact, press reports. The ban will take effect in 2025. Valais is the second canton to implement such a measure, following Jura’s ban in September 2024.
21st October 2024: Switzerland: Mathias Steinhauer, a councillor in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, has introduced a motion to ban disposable e-cigarettes. The reasoning behind the motion is that the products appeal to youth due to their flavours, and are an environmental issue due to their improper recycling. Cantons such as Basel and Jura have also presented motions to ban these products, with the Jura canton already approving a ban.
21st October 2024: Switzerland: The National Council's Commission for Social Security and Health has approved the partial revision of the Tobacco Products Act, which introduces restrictions on the advertising of tobacco and vaping products to children and adolescents. The Commission requested that several decisions of the Council of States be followed, such as a ban on advertising in publicly accessible places and on sponsoring events where under-18s have access. In other areas, the Commission has made compromise proposals that differ from the Federal Council's draft. The National Council will discuss the amendment at its winter session in December.
1st October 2024: Switzerland: Today, the Tobacco Products Act and the Ordinance on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes enter into force. Electronic cigarettes with and without nicotine will fall under the tobacco regulations. Measures introduced by the regulations include a uniform ban on sales to under-18s, stricter advertising regulations, sales restrictions, packaging restrictions, reporting requirements and an extension to the public usage obligations. Amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act that introduce a tax on e-cigarettes will also enter into force. The amendment to the Tobacco Tax Act set a tax of CHF0.20 (€0.21) per ml of nicotine-containing e-liquid for reusable e-cigarettes and CHF1 (€1.06) per ml for disposable e-cigarettes, regardless of nicotine content. The tax applies from today for e-cigarettes manufactured domestically and those imported from abroad.
20th September 2024: Switzerland: Following the entry into force of the Tobacco Products Act and the Tobacco Products Ordinance on 1st October, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is organising an online event to inform the industry about the new legislation. The event will take place on 24th September from 08:30 to 09:30. Registration is possible by sending an email to tabakprodukte@bag.admin.ch. The event will be held in French and German.
17th September 2024: Switzerland: The Council of States has approved the partial revision of the Tobacco Products Act, which introduces restrictions on the advertising of tobacco and vaping products to children and adolescents. However, it insisted on exceptions – such as a permitting advertising in publicly accessible places and sponsorship provided it is not accessible or visible to minors. The bill will now go back to the National Council. If it is rejected a second time or the National Council fails to act, the matter will be closed and the parliamentary process will have to start again.
12th September 2024: Switzerland: Following a motion approval in the canton of Jura last week, a councillor from the Basel-Stadt canton, Christoph Hochuli, has tabled a motion calling for a cantonal ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, press reports. The motion was reportedly signed by members of the cantonal parliament from almost all parties.
9th September 2024: Switzerland: In the Canton of Jura, the parliament has approved a motion by 55 votes to 2 to ban disposable e-cigarettes, press reports. “We have an obligation to react quickly because this phenomenon is a time bomb for the health of our citizens,” said Didier Spies from the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), who proposed the motion. It is not yet clear when the ban will become effective.
29th August 2024: Switzerland: The Federal Council will put into effect the Tobacco Products Act and the Ordinance on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes on 1st October. Electronic cigarettes with and without nicotine will fall under the tobacco regulation and include a uniform ban on sales to under-18s, stricter advertising regulation, sales restrictions, packaging restrictions, reporting requirements and extension to the public usage obligations, among others. Amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act introducing a tax to e-cigarettes will also enter into force on the same date. The latest draft of the Tobacco Tax Act set a tax of CHF0.20 (€0.21) per ml of nicotine-containing e-liquid for reusable e-cigarettes and CHF1 (€1.07) per ml for disposable e-cigarettes, regardless of nicotine content.
9th July 2024: Switzerland: The Canton of Vaud has banned e-cigarette sales to under-18s and obligates retailers to verify the age of e-cig purchasers on the basis of an identity document. In addition, any business that does not currently have a licence to sell electronic cigarettes must apply to the local council for a licence. Bans on smoking in public places have been extended to e-cigarettes, and e-cig advertising in both public places and private places visible to the public is forbidden. A transitional period is provided until 31st January 2025 for licence application and advertising, and until 30th June 2025 for consumer age checks.
8th July 2024: Switzerland: The Federal Commission for Addiction and Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (EKSN) has published a discussion paper stating that tobacco products and e-cigarettes are under-regulated products, particularly in terms of marketing and advertising restrictions. The paper concludes that it would be advisable to introduce a licensing requirement for the production of these products and to raise their quality requirements.
4th July 2024: Switzerland: The Federal Statistical Office has released the Swiss Health Survey on tobacco consumption. The survey shows that more and more smokers are using heated tobacco products or e-cigarettes. In 2017 both products were used by 7% of smokers; in 2022 both were used by 16% of smokers, with 41% of that group also smoking conventional cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes among the total population increased from 1.5% in 2017 to 3% in 2022.

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