EU Countries Support Outdoor Vaping Ban Despite Opposition

In a meeting of health ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, European countries largely supported the European Commission’s plan to extend smoking bans for cigarettes and vapes to outdoor areas. This decision comes just days after members of the European Parliament opposed the measure. Germany and Greece were the only two countries to abstain from the vote, while other countries expressed dissatisfaction before ultimately passing the nonbinding recommendation.

The move encourages national governments to prohibit vaping and smoking in outdoor areas such as transport hubs, bar and café terraces, beaches, and playgrounds. Despite significant opposition among lawmakers in the now more polarized European Parliament last week, the capitals aligned with Brussels’ intention.

Read more: EU Countries to Push for Outdoor Vaping and Smoking Bans

Hungary Clarifies Nonbinding Nature of Recommendation

Hungarian Health Minister Péter Takács, who chaired the meeting during Hungary’s rotating Council of the EU presidency, addressed misunderstandings in national media reports. He clarified that the recommendation is nonbinding and that member states can “pick and choose” whether to implement it, emphasizing that there is no obligatory ban in this instance.

EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi supported the Commission’s stance, stating that the revision is needed to better protect people in the EU from exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosols in indoor and specific outdoor spaces. He cited the World Health Organization’s position that there is no safe or acceptable level of exposure to secondhand smoke and that secondhand emissions from electronic cigarettes also put nearby people at risk, regardless of nicotine content.

Germany and Greece Express Concerns

Germany’s state secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, Thomas Steffen, pointed to a decision made by the country’s Bundesrat, which questioned the scientific basis for outdoor bans and raised concerns about potential loss of sales in the catering industry and challenges for businesses in enforcing the bans.

Greece’s Health Minister Spyridon-Adonis Georgiadis abstained, arguing that the Commission should have conducted an impact assessment before putting forward the recommendation. He noted that Greece, which has the highest smoking rates in Europe at 42 percent of those over 15, would face particular challenges in implementing new prohibitions due to its climate and geographical location.

Read more: Italy and Romania Oppose EU’s Proposed Outdoor Smoking and Vaping Ban

Countries Call for EU-Wide Alignment and Further Action

Many countries supporting the plan have already introduced similar legislation nationally and seek EU-wide alignment. France’s Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq announced new measures to ban the sale of vapes in the coming weeks, calling for similar preventative action at the European level. Slovenia and the Netherlands have also banned certain vape flavors, but face challenges with illegal products due to neighboring countries’ differing legislation.

Belgium’s Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke described the current situation as a “cat and mouse” game with the tobacco industry, which is “flooding” EU markets with creative new tobacco, nicotine, or smoking products to attract and addict young generations. Estonia echoed calls for EU-wide restrictions, arguing that its own ban on flavored vapes is undermined by different legislation in neighboring countries.

With the nonbinding measures passed, many countries, including Finland, Latvia, and Belgium, now urge the Commission to move ahead with its revision of harder-hitting tobacco rules, including updated laws on taxation and a refresh of its overarching tobacco framework. However, this will require getting MEPs on board, which may prove challenging.

Read more: 5 Vape-Friendly European City Breaks for 2024

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.