Germany: Environmental Group Urges Disposable Vape Ban
The German Environmental Aid association (DUH) is calling for a nationwide ban on disposable e-cigarettes, criticizing a new amendment to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act as insufficient to tackle the growing waste and health risks associated with these products. The Bundestag is voting today on the amendment, which includes provisions to expand the take-back program for disposable vapes at retail locations.
Barbara Metz, Federal Managing Director of DUH, argued that simply expanding return options will be ineffective, as consumers can already return these devices free of charge to supermarkets and electronics retailers but rarely do so. “This Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act will not reduce the mountains of waste generated by the more than 60 million disposable e-cigarettes consumed annually in Germany – and certainly not the health risks for children and young people,” Metz stated.
The DUH urges Germany to follow the lead of countries like France and Belgium by implementing a national ban. In a promising development for the DUH, parliamentary groups of the SPD and CDU/CSU are now also calling for an examination of a potential ban in a resolution being voted on today. Metz called on Health Minister Warken to take responsibility and listen to colleagues within her own parliamentary group who are pushing for a prohibition, which she suggests could be quickly implemented by amending the Tobacco Products Ordinance.
- Read more: Germany’s Bundesrat Pushes for Disposable Vape Ban
- News source: Bundestag entscheidet über Einweg-E-Zigaretten: Deutsche Umwelthilfe fordert nationales Verbot statt wirkungsloser Rücknahmeregeln
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