Belgium has become the first country in the EU to ban the sale of disposable vapes in an effort to reduce the number of young people using them.
The ban came into force on January 1st 2025. Will other countries follow suit?
The ban came into force on January 1st 2025. Will other countries follow suit?
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00:00Fresh regulations are set to be rolled out across the country.
00:05And disposable e-cigarettes are being stubbed out.
00:09Thribe is a Belgium-based manufacturer, seller and distributor of vape products.
00:14Before the ban was announced, disposable vapes made up roughly half of their sales at convenience stores.
00:21They say a lower price point compared to refillable vapes can be a major motivator for young people.
00:29A young person that has an impulse, you know, I want to try vaping,
00:33is much more inclined to do it at an 8 euro price point than at a 20, 25 euro price point.
00:39Besides this, it's also a convenience thing, right?
00:42You need only just one product really to start.
00:45It's already illegal to sell vapes to under 18s in Belgium.
00:49And rules on how they can be marketed are already in effect.
00:52E-cigarettes usually contain nicotine, which is addictive.
00:56They're often used by adults as a means to quit smoking.
00:59But there are fears the different flavors and colorful packaging
01:03are attracting an increasing number of children and young people.
01:07A World Health Organization survey in 2022 found that 12% of Belgian 11 to 18-year-olds
01:14had used a vape in the last 30 days.
01:17That's more than double the amount seen in 2018.
01:20Germany and France are working on similar legislation.
01:23But as the first European Union member to impose a ban on sales,
01:27Belgian health officials say implementation and a crackdown on illegal vendors will be key.
01:33We are collaborating with the large online sales places,
01:38such as Facebook Marketplace and Amazon.
01:41We have a collaboration with them to remove ads for these products immediately.
01:46We also collaborate with customs in order to check the sales from abroad.
01:51Those here say they're supportive of the move,
01:55but warn that unless it's properly enforced, the ban's impact could go up in smoke.
02:02Officials say the move was also motivated by environmental concerns.
02:07There is plastic waste, obviously.
02:10Secondly, there is e-waste. You have the battery, you have the circuitry.
02:15And thirdly, there is hazardous waste because the chemicals that still are there.
02:20The spokesperson for the European Commission calls electronic cigarettes
02:24a dangerous gateway for first smoking experiences.
02:28Belgian authorities hope this ban will breathe fresh life
02:32into the EU's goal of creating a tobacco-free generation by 2040.
02:38William Denslow, CGTN, Brussels.