Slovenia bans flavours for e-cigarettes

The Slovenian National Assembly has unanimously adopted a bill banning flavourings in e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, as well as smoking rooms in bars and airports. The law also proposes to include new nicotine products (pouches) in existing legislation and to ban the online and cross-border sale of these products. The main objective of these measures is to reduce the attractiveness of new tobacco and nicotine products for young people.[1].

Ban on flavourings for heated tobacco complies with directive 2022/2100 of the European Commission which bans characterizing flavors in heated tobacco products and imposes health warnings comparable to those for other cigarettes in the countries of the European Union. It will be effective from May 24, 2024 in Slovenia.

Ban on all flavours except tobacco flavour for vaping

First, the government proposed to allow tobacco and mint flavours in e-cigarettes, but MPs excluded mint as well – following pressure from civil society – so that tobacco will be the only flavour allowed in vaping products. The flavour ban will come into force after a 12-month transition period, following its publication in the Official Journal, and will be effective in April 2025.

"With the proposed measures, we will protect everyone, especially children and young people, from products that appear attractive but are harmful to health.", said Eva Vodnik, state secretary at the Ministry of Health, before parliament. "Most young people start using e-cigarettes because they find the flavors appealing, but several studies have shown that those who use vapes are more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes.", she added. Adolescents who start smoking e-cigarettes are three to four times more likely to start smoking conventional cigarettes, said Sonja Tomšič of the Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana.

New nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches, will also be more strictly regulated and will benefit from a clearer definition in the new legislation.

Ban on smoking rooms

MEPs also reduced the proposed transition period for the ban on smoking lounges by three years. They will now have to be removed by the end of 2025. Since the country banned smoking in indoor public places and workplaces in 2007, lounges in places such as bars and airports had been the only exceptions.

Measures implemented thanks to the efforts of civil society

Slovenian and European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) played an important role in the adoption of these measures.[2]. They were widely heard by legislators during public consultations and committee sessions. The measures proposed by civil society were also very positively received in the media, which did not give in to pressure and misinformation from the tobacco industry and pro-vaping associations that opposed the measures. National tobacco control advocates also received significant support from European coalitions and organisations that mobilized to send letters of support to the Slovenian government. A total of 24 foreign NGOs from 20 different countries sent letters of support to Slovenian decision-makers from the Commission for Social Protection, Labour, Health and People with Disabilities and the Health Commission, arguing that the proposed measures are effective in protecting the health of young people.

©Generation Without Tobacco

AE

[1] Slovenia toughens anti-tobacco law, The Slovenia Times, published March 28, 2024, accessed May 23, 2024

[2] Press release, How Slovenia Managed to Ban Flavors in E-Cigarettes, European Public Health Alliance, published on May 22, 2024, consulted on May 23, 2024