Belgium will become the first European Union country to ban the sale of disposable vapes starting January 1, 2025, citing health and environmental concerns.
Copyright Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Copyright 2024 The AP.
Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the inexpensive devices have become a health threat as they easily hook young people on nicotine.
“Disposable vapes are a new product and they are designed to attract new consumers,” he told NPR in an interview.
Because they are single-use items, the plastic, batteries, and circuitry are a burden on the environment. In addition, “they release harmful waste chemicals that remain in the waste that people throw away,” Vandenbroucke said, adding that he hopes to see stricter tobacco measures across all 27 EU countries.
“We make a sincere call to the European Commission to now take new initiatives to update and modernize tobacco legislation,” he said.
Even some vape shops have expressed understanding of Belgium’s decision, particularly considering the environmental impact.
“After you finish the cigarette, the battery is still working. That’s the most scary part, you can recharge it but you can’t,” said Steven Pomeranc, owner of the Vapotheque shop in Brussels. “So you can imagine the level of pollution it creates.”
Vape Ban Issue
While vape bans typically mean economic losses for industries, Pomeranc believes the impact will be minimal.
“We have many alternative solutions and they are very convenient to use,” he said. “For example, this pod system, it’s pre-filled with liquid and you can just clip it onto a rechargeable vape. So our clients will switch to this new system.”
Source: euronews
