Belgium thus becomes the first EU country to ban e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, for single use, which has become extremely popular, not least among young people.
E-cigarettes often contain nicotine. Nicotine makes you dependent on nicotine. Nicotine is bad for your health. It's a fact, says Vandenbroucke.
The single-use products contain both plastic and a battery, as well as other electronic components that are thrown away in the trash or in nature, which is bad for the environment, notes the Belgian minister.
Australia previously banned the sale of vapes, except in pharmacies, earlier this year. Now Belgium is following suit, and Vandenbroucke hopes that other EU countries will do the same.
We urge the EU Commission to take the initiative for new and more modern tobacco legislation, he says.
Vapes are becoming increasingly popular in Sweden as well. The sale of liquids for electronic cigarettes was more than six times higher in 2023 compared to 2021, according to a recent report from CAN, the Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information.
