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Italy will stick closely to the minimum measures required by the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive when it implements the European rules for e-cigarettes in its domestic law, according to a new report from ECigIntelligence.
A draft legislative decree fully transposing the TPD and currently in the process of being enacted in the Italian parliament does not extend the country’s existing rules on public vaping – which only apply to a few facilities such as schools – and adds no restrictions on advertising to those mandated by the European Union directive.
By contrast, some European countries have seized the opportunity of transposing the TPD to also impose extensive vaping bans, which are not required by the directive, or controls on advertising and promotion even tighter than those it calls for.
The new ECigIntelligence report examines how the Italian vaping sector will change after the country completes its TPD implementation, and the likely impact on the e-cigarette industry in Italy.
It already has legislation in place to prevent sales to under-18s as well as a tax on e-cigarette products, neither of which is required by the TPD, although the prohibition on selling to minors is becoming universal throughout the EU.
The tax remains enmeshed in controversy – another issue covered in the ECigIntelligence report.
What This Means: ECigintelligence estimates Italy to currently be the third most important market for e-cigarettes in Europe. Although it looks like it will remain one of the most lenient in terms of regulation, it is important for companies interested in the market to fully understand what is likely to happen there.
The ECigIntelligence in-depth regulatory report on Italy is now available on the Website for Gold and Platinum subscribers, and will soon be available as a standalone PDF for non-subscribers.
– Freddie Dawson ECigIntelligence staff
Photo: ReflectedSerendipity
