Ireland considers banning disposable e-cigarettes

The government is considering banning disposable e-cigarettes, which have become popular in Ireland.[1]Circular Economy Minister Ossian Smyth said a public consultation would be held before finalising any ban on disposable nicotine products, but that it could be introduced as part of the transposition of the legislation. European directive on single-use plastics.

The objective of the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive is to prevent and reduce the environmental impact of certain plastic products and to promote a transition to a circular economy. In particular, the Directive aims to tackle marine litter and plastic waste through a harmonised legislative framework across the EU. Cigarette butts and other filters used for tobacco products are also among the ten single-use plastic products covered by the Directive.

Ireland is, to date, the only country considering a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

Responding to an urgent environmental problem

The rapid growth in the consumption of electronic cigarettes in general in many countries poses a major new environmental problem. They are produced in large quantities and contain lithium batteries, electronic circuits, plastic and residues of liquids and nicotine which become massive and dangerous sources of waste. Disposable electronic cigarettes further aggravate this new situation because of their "disposable" nature and their use, if not single, at least limited. Minister Smyth specifically denounces the single use of this type of product which, very often, is not recycled properly and ends up in nature. He adds "This is an example of an innovation that makes the world a worse place".

In July 2022, a British study[2] revealed that a majority of disposable e-cigarettes are not recycled and end up in landfill in the UK. According to the study, two disposable e-cigarettes (puffs) are thrown into the bin every second in the UK. That’s enough lithium to make around 1,200 electric car batteries in a year.

A product that is too easily accessible

Ossian Smyth also denounced the ease with which these products can be obtained, particularly online, products popular with young people. According to the minister, it would be preferable to entrust the sale of electronic cigarettes to specialist stores. He argued that consumers would prefer to buy a regulated product in a store, rather than buying disposable vapes online whose ingredients and nicotine level are not those indicated on the packaging.

Last May, the Health Service Executive's National Tobacco Control Office in Ireland sent RAPEX alert notifications to the Safety Gate[3] (the European Union's rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products) after discovering that some disposable e-cigarettes contained up to 50 mg/ml (5%) of nicotine (the EU limit being 20 mg/ml (2%)).

These issues surrounding disposable electronic cigarettes are now being raised in many countries, including France, where they have massively invaded points of sale and have become a real fashion phenomenon among adolescents.[4].

Keywords: Ireland, disposable e-cigarette, puff, ban, European directive, environment

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[1] Paul Hyland, Minister defends plan to ban disposable vapes - 'They're making the world worse', Independent, published October 17, 2022, accessed October 20, 2022 [2] Generation without tobacco, A majority of disposable e-cigarettes are not recycled and end up in landfillss, published July 19, 2022, accessed October 20, 2022 [3] Generation without tobacco, Ireland: Very high nicotine levels not indicated on disposable e-cigarette packaging, published on May 25, 2022, consulted on October 20, 2022 [4] Generation without tobacco, Puffs: a risk of pediatric epidemic, published on July 13, 2022, consulted on October 24, 2022 National Committee Against Smoking |