Bulgaria’s National Assembly voted 197-0 on Wednesday to approve a comprehensive ban on vaping products at first reading. The legislation prohibits the import, trade, distribution, and online sale of all e-cigarettes – including both disposable and reusable devices, regardless of nicotine content.
Healthcare Committee Chair Kostadin Angelov spearheaded the amendments to the Tobacco and Related Products Act, stating: “Current age restrictions fail to prevent youth access. This full ban addresses loopholes in physical and online markets.”
Child Protection Act Amendments Expand Youth Safeguards
The reforms also update Bulgaria’s Child Protection Act to:
- Ban nicotine product sales to minors
- Prohibit energy drink sales to children
- Criminalize adult supply of vapes to underage users
“Despite existing laws, adolescents routinely bypass age checks at stores and websites,” Angelov noted during parliamentary debates.
GERB/SDS Proposes 2025 Enforcement Timeline
The ruling GERB/SDS coalition submitted complementary legislation to enact the vape ban by July 2, 2025. Angelov, who also chairs the GERB/SDS health policy group, confirmed: “We aim to eliminate all vaping devices – nicotine-free or otherwise – from legal markets.”
