Hungary regulatory report: tough rules but weakening enforcement

The regulation of vaping products in Hungary is substantially derived since last year from the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), but remains the most severe in the EU – although enforcement of many of the rules does appear to be slackening.

In this report, ECigIntelligence examines the regulatory landscape of the country under the right-wing government of prime minister Viktor Orbán.

The rules prevent all cross-border sales, while domestic retail of e-cigarette products is restricted to holders of a national tobacco licence, who cannot operate more than five shops.

Flavours are banned, though menthol, fruit and tobacco flavours can be sold until May 2020.