tobacco
Belgium bans disposable e-cigarettes
Disposable e-cigarettes become electronic waste after use. photo
© Marijan Murat/dpa
Belgium is the first EU country to ban disposable e-cigarettes, according to its health minister. He has one population group in particular in mind.
Vandenbroucke emphasized that these products are primarily aimed at young people. He was happy that they were being taken off the market. The EU Commission has approved the ban. This makes Belgium the first EU country to ban these disposable products. The Minister of Health pointed out that smoking is one of the main causes of preventable diseases. Disposable e-cigarettes are not only a major burden for health, but also for the environment.
The ban is part of the minister’s tobacco control plan. Smokers should be motivated to quit. At the same time, the aim is to prevent non-smokers from starting to smoke. According to his own statements, the minister of the European Commission had already presented a regulation in 2021 that would ban disposable e-cigarettes. This was approved this week, said Vandenbroucke.
Disposable e-cigarettes are filled with a non-refillable flavored liquid and have a non-rechargeable battery. After use, they become electronic waste. With traditional e-cigarettes, the liquid can be refilled.