Author: moonswamp

Poland's Ministry of Health has announced a significant delay in implementing comprehensive e-cigarette regulations targeting youth access. The new legislation, originally planned for January 2025, will now take effect in the second quarter of 2025 due to extended transition periods and European Commission notification requirements. Current Regulatory Gaps and Youth Access Despite existing laws prohibiting the sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes to minors, enforcement remains problematic. The current legislation fails to address nicotine-free products, creating a significant loophole. Retailers continue to display these products prominently in glass cases and near checkout counters, making them easily accessible to teenagers. Key Changes in…

The French Senate has voted decisively in favor of increasing taxes on tobacco products, sugary drinks, and gambling activities as part of the ongoing debates on the 2025 Social Security budget. The amendments, which received broad support from politicians across the political spectrum in both the Senate and the Assemblée nationale, were passed on Thursday, November 21. Cigarette Prices Set to Rise, Other Tobacco Products Targeted If the amendments are included in the final budget, the average price of a packet of cigarettes will reach €12.70 in 2025, a 40-cent increase compared to the previous government's anti-tobacco plan. The tax…

President Andrzej Duda has signed a groundbreaking tobacco excise tax law that will significantly impact Poland's 8 million smokers. The new legislation introduces substantial price increases for tobacco products starting January 2025. Pricing Changes Through 2027 The Ministry of Finance projects a dramatic shift in cigarette prices: Vice Minister of Finance Jarosław Neneman outlines specific tax rates under the new law. Manufacturers will pay 476.10 PLN per 1,000 cigarettes plus 32.05% of maximum retail price. Unlicensed cigarettes face an even higher rate of 789.77 PLN per 1,000 units. Impact Across Tobacco Products The legislation affects all tobacco products: The government…

Poland's Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna announced strict new measures targeting synthetic nicotine products during a recent TVP Info interview. The Ministry of Health plans to implement a comprehensive ban on synthetic nicotine pouches, marking a significant shift in the country's tobacco control policy. Minister Leszczyna emphasized the critical distinction between traditional snus, which already faces prohibition under EU directives, and synthetic nicotine pouches that have emerged as a concerning trend among Polish youth. These pouches deliver nicotine doses exceeding those found in conventional cigarettes through oral absorption between the lip and gum. The Ministry began developing this legislation in October…

France has announced plans to ban nicotine pouches, a product that has gained popularity among teenagers in recent years. Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq, in an interview with Le Parisien, stated that these pouches are "dangerous products because they contain high doses of nicotine." She confirmed that the ban will be officially announced in the coming weeks. Marketing Targeted at Young People Raises Concerns Darrieussecq expressed her concern over the marketing strategies employed by companies selling nicotine pouches, which she believes directly target young people. "I hope that we can protect our young people," she said, emphasizing the government's commitment to…

The UK government has confirmed that the sale of single-use disposable vapes will be banned in England and Wales from June 2025. The decision, initially announced in January by the previous government but not implemented before the general election, aims to safeguard children's health and mitigate environmental damage caused by these products. Vape Usage Surges, Driving Concerns Over Youth Addiction and Environmental Impact According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), vape usage in England has skyrocketed by more than 400% between 2012 and 2023, with 9% of the British public now purchasing and using these products.…

As debates over the 2025 budget intensify in the French Assembly, a group of deputies from the Liot and EPR groups has put forward a controversial proposal to introduce a new tax targeting vapers. The amendment, which suggests implementing a 15-cent per milliliter tax on e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes starting March 2025, has already raised concerns among industry professionals and advocates. Potential Revenue and Impact on Vapers The deputies estimate that this new tax could generate between 150 and 200 million euros in additional revenue annually for the state. However, the Federation of Vaping Professionals (Fivape) warns that such…

A new international study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, indicates that vaping does not produce clinically important respiratory symptoms. Significantly, the study stands out as one of the first large-scale efforts to examine people who vape but do not have histories of smoking, which have previously led to smoking-related harms being attributed to vaping. The study, part of the VERITAS project led by researchers from the Center of Excellence for Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania, Italy, has been praised by tobacco harm reduction advocates, although its interpretation has also faced some criticism. Studying Vapers…

French consumer vaping organization SOVAPE, known for organizing three Vape Summits in France between 2016 and 2019 and co-founding the European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA) umbrella group, announced this week that it will dissolve after being active since 2016. The decision comes in the wake of several recent challenges faced by the organization. Market Research Firm Cancels Annual Survey Due to Client Conflict One of the major blows to SOVAPE came when market research firm BVA, which had conducted annual surveys of French public opinion on vaping and nicotine for the group since 2019, abruptly notified SOVAPE that it…

The European Commission has given the green light to France's proposed law that aims to ban the sale of vapes, or disposable e-cigarettes containing nicotine, in the country. The law, which was adopted by the French National Assembly in December 2023 and later by the Senate, only required the European Union's approval. With this final hurdle cleared, France is expected to implement the ban in the coming months. Puffs Gain Popularity Among French Teenagers A study commissioned by the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT) in 2023 revealed that among young people aged 13 to 16, 73% had already heard of puffs,…