“Belgium has decided to ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes from 1 January 2025 due to health and environmental reasons. This decision is considered a historic step for the European Union nations.
Health Minister Frank Vandenbrouck said cheap e-cigarettes are now a major health risk, as they easily lure teenagers into smoking and hook them into nicotine addiction. “Disposable e-cigarettes are a new category designed to attract new consumers,” he explained.
Reiterating that nicotine is addictive and harmful to health, Vandenbrouck said, “E-cigarettes often contain nicotine. Nicotine makes us addicted. Nicotine is bad for health. That’s the truth.”
Due to their disposable nature, the plastics, batteries and circuits contained in these cigarettes burden the environment. Moreover, their residual chemicals also cause environmental pollution if not disposed of properly.
The health minister said another important reason for banning disposable e-cigarettes is that reusable e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking.
Australia banned the sale of “vapes” outside of pharmacies this year. The decision was one of the world’s strictest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading this movement in the European Union.
“We are the first country in Europe to do this,” Vandenbrouck said. He urged the 27 countries of the European Union to take the initiative to tighten anti-tobacco measures. “We are calling on the European Commission to introduce new policies, update and modernize tobacco laws,” he added.
Belgium’s decision has also been supported by some e-cigarette vendors. Steven Pomeranc, owner of the Vapotheque shop in Brussels, said, “The pollution caused by disposable e-cigarettes is huge. The battery still works, but it can’t be recharged. It becomes a huge environmental risk.”
While a ban on disposable e-cigarettes would likely hurt the industry financially, Pomeranc said it would not have a major impact. He said alternatives such as pre-filled liquid pods and refillable e-cigarettes are readily available. “Customers will easily switch to this new system,” he noted.
It is expected that this decision will play an important role in protecting the environment besides keeping the young generation away from smoking addiction.”
