The European Commission is aiming to create a "Tobacco Free Generation" by 2040.
Vapers, beware; the
European Commission is planning on banning flavoured heated tobacco products in the EU.
This would mean that popular e-liquids would be prohibited from being sold in Europe.
The proposal was announced in response to a significant increase in sales of heated tobacco products across the continent.
Heated tobacco products amount for 2.5% of total sales of all tobacco products, with a 10% increase in sales across more than five European countries.
“By removing flavoured heated tobacco from the market we are taking yet another step towards realising our vision under Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to create a “Tobacco Free Generation” with less than 5% of the population using tobacco by 2040," said Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.
"With nine out of ten lung cancers caused by tobacco, we want to make smoking as unattractive as possible to protect the health of our citizens and save lives.
"Stronger actions to reduce tobacco consumption, stricter enforcement and keeping pace with new developments to address the endless flow of new products entering the market - particularly important to protect younger people – is key for this. Prevention will always be better than cure.”
The proposal will undergo a period of scrutiny by both the European Council and European Parliament.
If successful, the ban will be enforced 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal.
Member States, including Ireland, will have eight months to add the European Directive into their own national law.
Three months after this, the provisions will start to apply.
According to the HSE: "Electronic cigarettes ('e-cigarettes') use batteries to heat up nicotine, water and propylene glycol or glycerine with flavourings. This creates a vapour that lets you inhale nicotine without smoking or using tobacco. This is known as 'vaping'."
