Belgium is the first EU country to ban single-use e-cigarettes

The sale of disposable electronic cigarettes has been a thing of the past in Belgium since the New Year. Belgium is the first country in the EU to impose a vape ban. The government justified the move by saying that the disposable products were primarily aimed at young people and thus tempted them to smoke. The Belgian association of e-cigarette retailers and distributors VapeBel welcomed the ban. There is also broad support in the industry, especially since there are already alternatives to disposable products.

The ban on disposable cigarettes is part of a campaign by Belgium to limit tobacco consumption among its citizens. Smokers should be motivated to give up cigarettes. In addition, non-smokers should be prevented from becoming smokers.

Belgium’s Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke criticized e-cigarettes in an interview. The devices are a new product to “attract new consumers.” “It’s not an aid to quitting smoking. On the contrary.” This could make it easier for young people to be tempted to smoke and become addicted to nicotine. However, the devices are not only harmful to health.

Disposable e-cigarettes can – as the name suggests – only be used once. Unlike traditional e-cigarettes, the devices are filled with a non-refillable flavored liquid and contain a non-rechargeable battery. Through consumption, consumers create huge amounts of electronic waste.

“Because they are single-use products, plastics, batteries and circuits harm the environment. In addition, they create dangerous chemical waste that is still contained in what people throw away,” criticized Vandenbroucke.

The Belgian government called on the European Commission to modernize tobacco legislation.