Latvia has officially banned the sale of flavored E-liquid in the domestic market, and the minimum age requirement for buying any tobacco product has been raised to 20 years old. However, shop assistants aged 18-20 May sell tobacco products to customers at least 20 years old.
Latvia’s new rule: banning flavored E-liquid
E-liquids and alternatives containing imitation tobacco flavors are still allowed to be sold. In addition, Latvian law also prohibits the sale or purchase of tobacco products, substitutes, vape devices, and their accessories in China outside the EU or the European Economic Area.
Under this law, the National Revenue Agency (SRS) and the Health Inspectorate have the right to inspect samples of tobacco products, herbal smoking products, e-cigarette devices, and new tobacco products in retail outlets and warehouses. Now, this right has also been extended to samples of cigarette substitutes.
Tobacco purchase age up to 20 years
SRS is also authorized to collect tobacco products, alternatives, vape devices, and their additional vessels from third countries by commercial mail. The national police and local police will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ban on the sale of goods mentioned in the law, including alternatives to cigarettes.
Laws and regulations also prohibit the production and sale of tobacco products and other smoking products that look like sugar, snacks, and toys. In the amendments to the Act, it is clear that the needs of cigarette substitutes are to be met to enter the market, including ingredient requirements, packaging labeling specifications, and additional information on goods.
In addition, the law stipulates fines for violations of the circulation of cigarette substitutes, such as the purchase of such products via the Internet, and bans smoking in gambling establishments. The maximum smoke tar concentration is limited to less than 4 milligrams per gram.
The law also explicitly prohibits the sale of tobacco products containing menthol, its Cousins, and geraniol, and significantly increases fines for the illegal circulation of tobacco products. If tobacco products, alternatives, herbal smoking products, vape devices, and their additional utensils are sold to people under the age of 20, merchants will face fines of 280-700 euros and companies will face fines of 700-7,100 euros. Previously, fines for people under the age of 18 were €280-350 for sellers and €700-1,400 for companies.
The law also prohibits the listing of self-extinguishing tobacco that does not meet combustion and fire safety requirements.
