This post provides an update on recent actions taken by health authorities outside Canada to address nicotine use by youth.
Flavour bans
The number of countries which have banned all flavours (other than tobacco flavour) in vaping products grew to 7 in January, when Latvia finalized its law to that effect. As with the Netherlands and China, Latvia restricts tobacco flavourings to a "white list" of permitted ingredients. The Latvian restriction comes into effect on August 1, 2024.
Australia, which does not permit the sale of vaping products except under prescription, placed restrictions on the flavours for which prescriptions can be issued: only tobacco-flavour, mint and menthol are permitted. This measure took effect at the beginning of March. (Australia does not currently ban menthol in cigarettes).
A description of international flavour restrictions can be downloaded here.
A list of health organizations calling for flavour restrictions can be downloaded here.
Banning disposable vapes
At the beginning of 2024 only two countries which otherwise permitted e-cigarette sales banned the sale of disposable vaping products: New Caledonia and Australia.
Over the past two weeks it has become clear that the number of countries in which disposable e-cigarettes will not be permitted will grow.
- This week the Belgian Health Minister announced that its proposed ban, which had been suspended during a review by the European Commission, was back on track for implementation at the beginning of 2025.
- Also this week, France formally notified the EU that it will ban these products. The legislation currently suggests this will take place in September 2024.
- Also this week, the Polish Minister of Health disclosed that she had received permission from the Prime Minister to introduce legislation to ban disposable e-cigarettes.
- Last Friday, the New Zealand Associate Minister of Health announced that a law to ban disposable vaping products (and impose other controls) would be introduced.
