Newsroom
Belgium has made history as the first country in the European Union to ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes (vapes), a move aimed at reducing nicotine addiction among young people and protecting the environment. The new law, which took effect on January 1, prohibits the sale of disposable e-cigarettes for both health and environmental reasons.
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenburg, who announced the ban last year, called e-cigarettes “extremely harmful” to both society and the environment. He explained that disposable vapes are designed to attract new users, particularly young people, and that most of them contain nicotine, which is addictive and harmful to health. The minister also highlighted the environmental damage caused by cheap, disposable vapes, which contribute to dangerous chemical waste.
This ban is part of Belgium’s broader efforts to reduce smoking rates, with the country aiming for zero or near-zero new smokers by 2040. In addition to this ban, Belgium is taking steps to discourage smoking and challenge the influence of the tobacco industry, positioning itself as a leader in Europe in the fight against tobacco-related harm.
