Market & legal data of alternative tobacco products in Europe

5th February 2025: Germany: Ahead of the Bundestag elections on 23rd February 2025, the German Alliance for Non-Communicable Diseases (DANK) has put forward a six-point plan for health improvement. In the realm of tobacco and nicotine products, DANK proposes tax increases, advertising restrictions, a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, and a flavour ban due to the appeal to young people. DANK comprises 22 medical societies and research institutions across various medical disciplines, including the German Association of General Practitioners and the German Cancer Society. It plays an important role in shaping debates around preventive health measures, particularly through its lobbying efforts and public awareness campaigns.
5th February 2025: EU: The European Commission (EC) has released a staff working document reviewing Europe's Beating Cancer (BECA) Plan. The purpose of the document is to review what the 2021 BECA Plan has achieved and its state of implementation of various actions. The document outlines that the review of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and the Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD) is still ongoing, and that the new EC will inform of the next steps. As for the review of the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED), the document also shows that the review is still ongoing, and that there is a need for it.
4th February 2025: Spain: Today, on World Cancer Day, queen Letizia has emphasised the importance of preventing the use of tobacco and related products, such as e-cigarettes, which health authorities link to certain diseases, press reports. Speaking at an event by the Spanish Society of Radiotherapy Oncology (SEOR), the queen highlighted prevention as a key priority. She reaffirmed the goal of maximising patient survival and reducing cancer rates, acknowledging that the disease affects everyone.
4th February 2025: Ukraine: On 6th February, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) “Life” will hold a press conference titled “There is no such thing as safe smoking. The Antimonopoly Committee found the claim about Iqos being less harmful to be misleading”. The experts will discuss the results of the recent Antimonopoly Committee's decision on misleading advertising claims about less harm from using Iqos devices and tobacco products compared to smoking cigarettes and why it is extremely important for protecting the health of millions of Ukrainians.
4th February 2025: Belgium: The new federal government announced measures to pursue smoking cessation, extending the smoking and vaping ban to restaurant and bar terraces, press reports. The government also declared that smoking rooms in establishments accessible to the public will be banned, in an effort to achieve a tobacco-free generation in Belgium by 2040.
4th February 2025: Portugal: The Tax and Customs Authority has updated the list of approved and non-approved tobacco products in force, which includes nicotine-containing e-liquids. The total number of tobacco products included is 9,323.
3rd February 2025: Russia: Bill 782111-8 has been signed by president Vladimir Putin. The bill increases fines for selling tobacco and nicotine-containing products to minors (under-18s), including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). The maximum fine for legal entities violating this sales restriction will rise significantly, from the current range of between RUB400,000 (€3,900) and RUB600,000 (€5,800) to a new maximum of RUB2m (€19,500). Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma (lower chamber of the parliament) and a co-author of the bill, previously stated on his Telegram channel that inspections reveal sellers frequently violate the law for profit, endangering the health and lives of minors. The federal law is set to come into force on 13th February.
3rd February 2025: Greece: The Ministry of Health has updated the list of notified tobacco products. The list contains herbal heated products, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, among others.
3rd February 2025: Belgium: Bart De Wever was sworn in today as prime minister, after federal elections in June 2024 resulted in no clear majority and a coalition needed to be formed. The new government will consist of a broad coalition: in addition to De Wever’s right-wing New Flemish Alliance party, it will be composed of the centre-right French-speaking party Reformist Movement, the centre-right Christian Democrats and Flemish party, the centrist French-speaking party Les Engagés, and the centre-left Flemish party Vooruit (Forward). The coalition is called “Arizona”, a reference to the colours of that US state’s flag. Currently, no changes are foreseen in tobacco policies.
3rd February 2025: Germany: The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has updated the list of notified tobacco products.
31st January 2025: Slovakia: Starting tomorrow (1st February), e-liquids and nicotine pouches will be subject to excise duties in Slovakia. E-liquids will be subject to a rate of €0.20 per ml, and nicotine pouches will be taxed at €0.10 per g.
31st January 2025: Spain: A few days ago, we reported that the newly approved tax on nicotine products would be applied retroactively from 1st January 2025. However, the Spanish government has decided to postpone the implementation of the new tax on e-cigarette liquids and other tobacco-related products to 1st April 2025, as published in the country’s official gazette today. Other last-minute changes include the liability for tax payment falling on wholesalers and importers, excluding retailers from the obligation to file and make payments. From 1st April, an excise duty of €0.10 per g will be applied to nicotine pouches and “other nicotine products”.

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