Hungary adopts TPD, but its regime remains the toughest in Europe

Hungary has implemented the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), finally opening up its market to nicotine e-cigarettes – but as the latest regulatory report from ECigIntelligence makes clear, the country’s regime of e-cig regulation remains the most severe in Europe.

Distance sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquid is prohibited in Hungary and it is almost impossible to buy vaping products online there.

Some local vendors have shut up shop and some new businesses have opened in neighbouring countries, where the rules are less restrictive.

Hungary and Slovenia are the latest EU nations to introduce a tax on e-cigs. Hungary taxes all e-liquids regardless of nicotine level, at a rate per ml which will be increased in a few months.

Although the e-liquid tax is in line with that in other EU countries, the fee that applies for all notifications of compliant products is one of the highest in Europe.

The country is also one of the few EU states to have banned flavours, the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYÉI) having stated a while ago: “Smoking imitation devices, electronic cigarettes and refill container may not contain flavouring.”

Photo: Dennis Jarvis

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