LATEST ALERTSECigIntelligence’s review of the year gone by reflects the big stories of the e-cigarette world in 2017, the trends in regulation, the developing and diverging markets, the science and innovation, and peers into the crystal ball to consider where it all goes from here
A rigorous anti-tobacco regime should come first before e-cigarettes are promoted for harm reduction, delegates at a tobacco control conference in Germany were told
Nearly all EU member states have interpreted article 13 of the European TPD to ban all claims related to health in the absence of a medical certificate. However, there may be a pathway to a reduced-risk classification.
The Swiss market is dominated by open advanced systems mostly purchased offline. Due to the country’s nicotine ban Switzerland seems an ideal market for shake and vape e-liquids. Foreign shake and vape e-liquids, mostly imported from the U.S., are at the forefront, but several domestic e-liquid brands also produce large format nicotine-free e-liquids.
Tighter regulation “is on the way” for e-cigs, according to the European Commission’s commissioner for health and food safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, who sees “possibilities” for “stronger regulation” to “stop advertising and online sales”
In our latest look at Poland, we find that fewer than 10% of respondents have been running their business for less than a year, which indicates fewer entrants into the sector following implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). The Polish e-liquid market is highly fragmented, with the top 12 brands accounting for only 55% of total quoted best-selling brand mentions. The leading brand is Pinky Vape, while the hardware device sector is more consolidated.
As shake and vape grows in popularity, ECigIntelligence takes a look at the German market in detail and finds that experienced vapers in Germany mostly use their own-mixed e-liquids, which can help in avoiding TPD restrictions for e-liquid-containing nicotine. This trend seems to have grown in Germany since May 2017, and almost half of the e-liquid brands sold in Germany are ready to mix.
Sweden is to join its Scandinavian neighbours Finland and Denmark in adding vaping to its ban on smoking in a variety of public places. The country is also preparing to tax e-liquids, with or without nicotine
Deep social inequalities among the smoking population have long been recognised; the question now is whether e-cigarettes can help to correct them, or whether they may even widen the health gap
Nearly 150,000 e-cigarette products have been notified to authorities in EU countries since the transposition of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in member states – far more than officials expected
How has regulation in Europe affected e-cigarette markets? Tim Phillips of ECigIntelligence gave his views to an audience of industry insiders in London
The increasingly popular practice of “shake and vape” poses a threat to the e-cigarette industry, according to speakers and delegates at a recent conference
Our consumer survey took place from September to October 2017. Most respondents were ex-smokers, with around a third vaping for more than two years. The majority of our respondents where male and aged between 25 and 44.
We found that advanced devices dominate, and more than 60% of respondents are mixing their own e-liquid. E-liquids containing low nicotine content are reportedly the most popular.
Our updated report on the state of e-cigarette regulation in the UK unpicks the differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Some Polish politicians, opposed to the government, are trying to stop the country’s planned tax on e-liquids and instead introduce their own e-cigarette bill to parliament
Since the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was implemented, the Greek e-cigarette market has shifted towards using shake and vape e-liquids, as they are exempt from the new tax
Our updated report on Swiss law as it relates to e-cigarettes considers both current regulation and how it is likely to change in a country that is in Europe but outside the EU
Pre-school children will be given e-cigarettes to play with and try to switch on as German authorities work to establish a national standard for child-proofing the products
The UK government is being urged by both an all-party parliamentary lobby group and the British Psychological Society to keep promoting e-cigs as a means to stop smoking
Nicotine-containing e-cigs and e-liquids have been sold legally in Sweden since 2016 and the market has been gradually growing – but there are still obstacles in its way
In our latest look at the UK market, we find that the e-liquid sector is highly fragmented and a high percentage of the respondents are mixing their own e-liquid. The hardware sector is less fragmented
Transposition of the TPD into Belgian law has been force since January 2017. The restrictions it imposes include a ban on online sales as well as product, packaging, labelling and advertising restrictions
ECigIntelligence’s updated review of Germany’s e-cigarette laws and regulations includes details of likely future tightening of restrictions.
EU legislation is unclear on how to categorise hybrid devices, which may give manufacturers some degree of choice. This report aims to help them make that choice wisely
The new trend of shake and vape is taking the French market by storm, with new brands appearing rapidly – particularly a wave of imports from the US and Malaysia
In our latest look at the Italian market, we find sales of e-liquids generate around 45% of revenue. Tobacco and fruits are reported as the most popular flavours, while the e-liquid sector appears dominated by Italian brands
Poland’s Bureau for Chemical Substances has published the first official list of all notified e-cigarette products, providing an insight into the product mix on the Polish market
In our latest look at the UK market, we find there are approximately 2.8m vapers, an increase of around 12% since 2015. Most are daily users, and there is a clear preference for open system products
While most attention has been paid to the effects of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) within individual markets, it also imposes new demands on cross-border sellers
Slovenia’s Constitutional Court has been asked to rule on whether the country’s ban on online e-cigarette sales contravenes the national constitution
Our investigation of the Slovenian e-cigarette market finds a very small vaping population and a small number of vape stores bound by a highly restrictive regulatory regime
The EU’s Tobacco Product Directive (TPD) has not yet been fully adopted in Norway. It is anticipated that the sale and manufacture of nicotine containing e-cigarettes and e-liquids will be allowed in the first half of 2018. They are currently banned except for personal import. Online remains the main distribution channel, with foreign online companies having a significant presence.
New legislation regulating nicotine-containing e-cigarettes came into force on 1st January 2016 in Portugal. Current taxes on nicotine e-liquids are €0.30/ml, but a new budget law is due for vote in November 2017 when it will become clearer if the rate will be changed or kept at the same level.
Our latest survey of the state of the online German e-cig market finds improved websites, more visits – despite a clampdown on advertising – and stability in the top 20 site rankings
The EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was transposed in Finland the form of the Tobacco Act, which made Finland one of the EU’s most strictly regulated countries. Market growth of 40% throughout 2016–2017 was mainly determined by increased numbers of vapers (+16%), growth of the share of daily users (30% in 2017 compared with 14% in 2016), plus an overall price increase in most e-cigarette categories.
in our latest look at the French market, we see that all the studied vape store chains are at least partially using a franchise business model. Our franchising conditions’ analysis revealed the Jwell chain has the most attractive franchise conditions, while Clopinette had the strictest. All the vape stores have an online retail presence; however, their focus is on their physical stores.
Heat-not-burn (HnB) products could benefit from greater marketing opportunities in the European Union than e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco as the heating devices are not themselves considered to be tobacco products
The UK bodies in charge of advertising regulatory code have put forward a yes/no consultation on proposals to loosen restrictions on e-cigarette health claims in advertisements.
Based on questions that have arisen in conversations with the e-cigarette industry, our Q&A considers the different regulatory problems that may arise with cross-border distance marketing within the EU or from other countries to Europe
Our latest look at the legal status of e-cigarettes in the Czech Republic details the country’s approach to the European TPD requirements
The Dutch health ministry is to bring in new regulation of vapour products, including a 10 ml limit on non-nicotine e-liquids and some vaguely worded restrictions on e-cigarette packaging
Malaysian e-liquid manufacturers are looking at the European Union and other markets as regulatory uncertainty bites at home – but only the bigger players can afford the costs involved
Our latest in-depth look at the Danish e-cigarette sector finds a market that is growing despite a reduction in the overall vaping population, and where the beneficial effects of the European TPD are being felt
A study for the German government has concluded that “e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than tobacco”, but adds a warning that the long-term effects remain unknown
After the fall of the market size due the e-liquid tax, it seems both companies and vapers have now adapted to the new regulation. As the market starts to grow again, we find advance modular systems have a high prevalence. With distance sales forbidden, Portugal stores have adapted the same strategy as companies in Belgium and Austria: the catalogue is online but there is no delivery.
The sale of ingredients for shake and vape – enabling users to mix their own nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquids – is a legal grey area for sellers in many European countries, as it can be a way to get round TPD quantity restrictions on nicotine-containing liquids. In this report, ECigIntelligence looks into the matter in detail.
Facebook groups, vape stores with websites, and private vaping rooms have all been targeted as officials tell vapers: buy from specialist stores, where products are controlled and safe
Our analysis of notifications under the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) provides some indications of the product mix in the Hungarian e-cigarette market
The Bulgarian e-cig market is currently worth BGN78m ($47m in 2017), with 200,000 vapers. Almost one in 20 Bulgarians regularly uses e-cigarettes – nearly half because they can vape in places where smoking is banned. The online channel is undeveloped and most sales are offline. However, we believe there is scope for the market to develop further.
Heated tobacco products may have an advantage in the EU over both cigarettes and e-cigs as the devices are not classed as tobacco products. It remains to be seen how each country allows them to be promoted
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