Attempts to update current regulations and tax vapes in the EU continue. Photo credit: Lindsay Fox, CC2.0
Sixteen EU countries are urging the European Commission (EC) to propose a new law that would update tobacco taxation rules to include new products such as vapes, according to Reuters.
Led by the Netherlands, this initiative is backed by several other nations, including Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, and others. The finance ministers from these countries sent a letter to EC calling for an update to the 2011 EU tobacco taxation law, emphasizing that the absence of EU-wide regulations on vaping has led to inconsistent tax rules across member states. They claim this has created market distortions, undermining the integrity of the EU's single market.
The update to the EU tobacco taxation law, originally due by the end of 2022, has been delayed, and EU governments are now pressing the new EC, which took office on December 1, to prioritize this issue.
The finance ministers from 16 EU countries called for the inclusion of vapes in the taxation framework, as the current system only addresses traditional tobacco products. Without a uniform EU approach, member states have implemented varying regulations, creating inconsistencies in the single market.
While EC has set some regulatory standards for e-cigarettes—such as limits on nicotine content and requirements for labels advising against use by non-smokers—rules still differ across countries. For example, in France, vaping is banned in specific public spaces, including public transport and universities, and those under 18 cannot purchase vapes. In contrast, Italy lifted its public vaping ban in 2013, though use near schools remains prohibited. Additionally, disposable vapes have become a focal point for lawmakers, with France considering a complete ban due to environmental and health concerns. The German Federal Council (Bundesrat), the upper house of parliament, also joined the call for stronger regulation of disposable vapes by urging the government to advocate for a similar ban across the EU.