Switzerland: Valais canton bans puffs

This Thursday, November 14, the Valais Grand Council banned, by 77 votes to 46 and 2 abstentions, the sale of disposable electronic devices (puffs) in the canton. It is the second canton after Jura to ban this type of device in the interests of protecting young people and the environment.

During the process of amending the Health Act, an amendment regarding the ban on these disposable e-cigarettes was added at the last moment. The ban is expected to come into force in 2025.[1].

High consumption of puffs among adolescents and young adults in Valais

According to a study conducted in 2022 by Unisanté and Promotion santé Valais, more than half of young people in Valais aged 14 to 25 reported having already used this type of product at least once in their life and 12% reported using it regularly. This rate is 9% among 14-17 year-olds and 13% among 18-25 year-olds. More than 20% of the young people surveyed also reported using it with nicotine levels exceeding the legal maximum in Switzerland of 20 mg/mL. In light of these findings, Unisanté and Promotion santé Valais had called for stronger regulations, including a ban on puffs, a ban on flavourings for vaping products and a ban on advertising for these products in all places frequented by young people and on the Internet.

Regulations that are more or less strict depending on the canton

Switzerland is lagging far behind at the federal level in the fight against smoking. The country, which remains to this day one of the last countries not to have ratified the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), is today considered to be the stronghold of the tobacco industry in the world. The tobacco industry also maintains a very strong influence over public decision-makers, which largely explains the country's delay in implementing public health regulations. On average, 27% of the Swiss population aged 15 and over smoke (daily and occasionally). In the 25-34 age group, there are 42 % men and 31% women who smoke.

If a new law on tobacco products came into force on 1^er last October[2] In Switzerland, it has significant loopholes because it still allows advertising for tobacco and vaping on the Internet and in the written press. It also allows the sponsorship of events by the tobacco industry and still does not prohibit the offering of promotions for these products at points of sale.

Some cantons, however, are adopting stricter regulations.[3] to combat smoking or the consumption of vaping products among young people. This is particularly the case in Jura, which approved a ban on puffs last September, or in Ticino, an Italian-speaking canton located in the south of Switzerland, which approved a change in its legislation in 2023 and assimilates vaping products to traditional tobacco products.

©Tobacco Free Generation

AE

[1] Valais becomes the second canton to ban disposable electronic cigarettes, RTS, published on November 15, consulted the same day

[2] Tobacco-free generation, Switzerland raises tobacco sales age to 18 nationwide, published September 8, 2024, accessed November 15, 2024

[3] Generation without tobacco, Switzerland: High consumption of puffs among young people, cantons strengthen their regulations, published on February 18, 2023, consulted on November 15, 2024