The U.S. vape market experienced significant growth in 2021, with combined sales of cartridge-based and disposable e-cigarette products from nine leading manufacturers exceeding $2.67 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) third report on e-cigarette sales and advertising. The report, released on April 3, 2024, also highlighted a $370 million increase in sales between 2020 and 2021, and a $90.6 million rise in advertising and promotional spending by e-cigarette companies. Read more
A recent study conducted by online vape store Go Smoke Free has revealed that Blackburn, a former mill town in Lancashire, has the highest concentration of vape shops in the United Kingdom. The research, which analyzed data from Companies House, found that Blackburn had 22.56 e-cigarette shops per 100,000 people, surpassing other major cities such as Bolton, Manchester, and Middlesbrough. Read more
New York, NY – In a major crackdown on the illegal sale of flavored disposable vapes, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix announced today that the city has filed a lawsuit against 11 wholesalers. The defendants, located in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and upstate New York, are accused of distributing youth-friendly flavored disposable vapes to retail vape and smoke shops, convenience stores, and directly to consumers over the internet, in violation of federal, state, and city laws. Read more
As disposable vapes continue to gain popularity across Europe, several countries are grappling with the challenges of implementing bans on these products. Following the United Kingdom’s lead, nations such as France, Belgium, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand have expressed their intention to prohibit the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. However, the path to enacting these bans has been marked by delays and obstacles.
Poland: Booming Sales and Delayed Legislation
In Poland, the sale of disposable vapes has skyrocketed in recent years. Data shows that sales reached 32 million units in 2022 and are expected to surpass 100 million by 2023. The Polish Market Monitoring Center estimates the market value of disposable e-cigarettes in Poland to be approximately PLN 2 billion (USD 500 million).
Polish Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna, who described the ban on disposable vapes as “urgent” in a television interview, recently admitted that the planned end of work on the legislation in March had been delayed due to other tasks. She assured that April would be the deadline for completing the bill.
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POLAND ANNOUNCES DISPOSABLE VAPE BAN
France: Parliamentary Agreement and September Implementation
On March 21, the French Parliament reached an agreement to ban disposable vapes. The ban, expected to take effect at the end of September 2024, prohibits the manufacture, sale, or free provision of these products. Violators will face a fine of 100,000 euros.
The bill was passed by the Parliament in December 2023, unanimously approved by the Senate in early February, and reached a consensus in the Joint Committee (CMP) composed of members of both houses of Congress on March 21. The government swiftly announced its decision to notify the European Commission, which has six months to certify the legislation before it takes effect in September.
Belgium: Taxation and European Commission Approval
Belgium has taken a two-pronged approach to addressing the disposable vape issue. Starting from January 1, 2024, the country will implement a new tax policy on e-cigarette oil, charging 15 euro cents per milliliter. A spokesman for the Ministry of Finance stated that the tax rate aligns with Germany’s and is likely to increase in the coming years.
Additionally, Belgian authorities have decided to ban the sale of disposable vapes from January 1, 2026. To comply with European law, specifically the Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU), Belgium requires approval from the European Commission to implement its new regulations. The European Commission has now announced its support for Belgium’s bill, paving the way for the country to become the first in the EU to ban disposable e-cigarettes.
Calls for Action and Industry Response
In March 2023, seven major associations, including the European Association for Waste Disposal and Resource Utilization (FEAD) and the European Waste Energy Plant Association (CEWEP), jointly called for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes by the end of 2024. Their primary concern lies in the environmental impact of the lithium batteries contained in these products, which have caused fires due to improper disposal.
In response to the growing concerns, European Cargo Luxembourg International Airlines (Cargolux) announced that it and its subsidiary, Cargolux Italian Branch, would stop transporting disposable e-cigarettes. The company expressed hope that other logistics companies would follow suit, potentially impacting the supply and production chain of disposable e-cigarettes in Europe.
As the debate surrounding disposable vapes continues, it remains to be seen how effectively and swiftly European countries will implement their proposed bans. The obstacles faced by legislators and the response from industry stakeholders highlight the complexities of addressing this growing issue while balancing public health, environmental concerns, and economic interests.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Cambodia has recently launched a campaign to increase education and raise awareness among students about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. This initiative comes in response to the alarming fact that the vast majority of e-cigarette users in Cambodia are between the ages of 15 and 29.
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A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) has proposed that offering free vapes to smokers in hospital emergency departments, along with smoking cessation advice, could potentially help thousands of people quit smoking each year. The trial, which took place between January and August 2022 in six UK emergency departments, aimed to explore an opportunistic approach to reach smokers who may be less likely to engage with traditional stop smoking services. Read more
In a bid to curb the growing trend of vaping among children, the Australian government has proposed new legislation that could see illegal vape sellers and manufacturers face up to seven years in prison. The move comes as authorities seek to tighten regulations surrounding the sale and use of e-cigarettes. Read more
In a landmark move towards achieving a “tobacco-free generation,” Belgium has announced a nationwide ban on the sale of disposable vapes, set to take effect on January 1, 2025. The decision, announced by Public Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke on Saturday, positions Belgium as the first country in Europe to implement such a ban, with the exception of the United Kingdom, which is no longer part of the European Union. Read more
In a significant move to combat the growing teen vaping epidemic, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed Senate Bill 61 into law on Wednesday. The legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, aims to curb the alarming trend by banning the sale of flavored e-cigarette cartridges and disposable devices in the state. Read more
In a significant move to curb youth vaping, the French Parliament has reached a consensus on banning single-use electronic cigarettes , commonly known as “disposable vapes.” The ban is expected to come into effect by the end of September 2024, as stated by Green Party deputy Francesca Pasquini.
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