The Belgian health minister warned to reduce smoking among teenagers and the environmental impact. Belgium will become the first country in the European Union to ban the sale of single-use vapes from January 2025.
The Belgian government has launched a national campaign to crack down on smoking. According to government data, most young smokers in Belgium are starting to use vapes instead of traditional tobacco cigarettes.
From January 2025, Belgium will become the first country in the European Union to ban the sale of disposable vapes.
Frank Vandenbroucke, the Belgian health minister, told Reuters,
- “Single-use vapes are designed to appeal to younger people and attract new users who may have never smoked before. vapes are attracting a new generation of smokers.
While proponents of vapes argue that it helps wean people off traditional tobacco, health authorities are concerned about its colorful design and appeal to children’s tastes. Belgian law prohibits the sale of vapes to minors under the age of 18.
According to a World Health Organization survey conducted in 2022, the survey was conducted among 20,000 Belgian adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. The data showed that 12% of people used vapes in the 30 days before the survey, which is double the number in 2018.
Germany and France are working on similar laws, but the United Kingdom, which is no longer a member of the European Union, has announced it will ban the sale of vapes from June 2025. Belgium hopes its ban will also reduce environmental pollution from single-use vapes, which contain plastics, compounds, and non-rechargeable batteries.
