Estonia calls on EU to tighten vaping regulations

On 12 July, the European Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) met to unanimously approve proposals to strengthen the regulation of nicotine-containing products across the European Union. The initiative aims to harmonise regulations across Europe in order to better protect public health.

High consumption of new nicotine products among young Estonians

Young Estonians are among the world's largest consumers of vaping products. And the trend continues to rise in the country. According to the Health Behaviour Survey of the Population Aged 15 and Over in Europe, in 2020, regular e-cigarette users accounted for 2,133,000 people in Estonia.[1] By 2023, this percentage had already increased to 9.%. [2]

Liisa Pakosta, Estonian MEP and chair of the European Affairs Committee, expressed her concern about this situation. She highlighted the risks to public health and the environment, and strongly criticised the harmful influence of the tobacco lobby and the widespread misinformation about these new products.[3]

The provisions proposed by Estonia to the European Union

Estonia is proposing a series of measures to strictly regulate the marketing and use of non-therapeutic nicotine products such as vaping products and nicotine pouches. Key provisions include limiting flavours, setting maximum nicotine limits for pouches, banning online sales of all such products, and introducing standardised packaging to reduce their appeal. In addition, existing smoking bans should apply to the consumption of vaping products, while the marketing of disposable e-cigarettes should be banned altogether.

A call from several European countries to strengthen measures on vaping

EU vaping legislation is primarily governed by the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). Adopted in 2014, the TPD imposes restrictions on e-liquids and vaping devices, including a nicotine concentration limit of 20 mg/ml, tank volumes of no more than 2 ml, and e-liquid bottles of no more than 10 ml. Packaging must also display a health warning and list the product’s ingredients.

In addition, there is information on the nicotine content of the product and a leaflet containing instructions for use and information on side effects, risk groups, addiction and toxicity. Promotional elements are not permitted on the packaging of e-cigarettes.[4]

Unlike tobacco products, however, there are no EU-wide restrictions on flavourings. Member states can decide to impose stricter regulations. The Netherlands, Slovenia, Hungary, for example, have already banned flavourings for vaping products. Finland has also banned flavourings in e-liquids, except for tobacco flavouring. In addition to regulating flavourings, Finland also imposes high taxes on these products.[5] Denmark, for its part, adopted plain packaging in 2022 not only for tobacco products but also for vaping products.[6]

Last June, several European countries had already asked the European Commission to strengthen the regulation of nicotine products in order to protect young people, in particular by banning flavourings in vaping products and nicotine pouches. Denmark and Latvia, with the support of Cyprus, Estonia, Ireland, France, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain, are all making the same request for such a ban to be included in the next version of the European Tobacco Products Directive.

©Generation Without Tobacco

DT

[1] Eurobarometer, Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes, Eurobarometer, published in 2021, consulted on July 17, 2024

[2] Eurobarometer, Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes, Eurobarometer, published in 2024, consulted on July 17, 2024

[3] Estonian Parliament website, Estonia recommends strengthening EU tobacco and nicotine products regulations, press release, published July 12, 2024, accessed July 15, 2024

[4] European Commission, Electronic cigarettes, European Commission, consulted on July 17, 2024

[5] Global Tobacco Control, Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes, accessed July 15, 2024

[6] Tobacco-free generation, Denmark: adoption of plain packaging for certain tobacco and vaping products, GST, published July 6, 2021, accessed July 17, 2024