By Antonia Di Lorenzo, ECigIntelligence
The disposable vape ban in the UK, which comes into effect at the beginning of June, will not be the first in Europe – and it is not likely to be the last, either. For as 2025 unfolds, the European Union finds itself at the centre of an intensifying debate over the environmental and health impacts of disposable vapes. Actions taken by countries like Belgium and France highlight a growing momentum towards stricter regulation, with an EU-wide ban on these products becoming a possibility.
Belgium led the charge in March last year when it became the first European nation to announce a ban on disposables. This decision followed a failed attempt in 2021 which was blocked by the European Commission due to bureaucratic issues. However, the measure successfully came into force on 1st January of this year. The Belgian government cited environmental concerns as the primary driver of this policy, emphasising the need to tackle the mounting problem of electronic waste.
Additionally, Belgian officials underscored the rise in under-age vaping as a secondary but crucial justification. This dual focus on environmental preservation and youth protection reflects a growing awareness of the multifaceted challenges posed by disposable vapes, and Belgium’s bold step has already begun to influence neighbouring countries, signalling a new wave of action on this front.
France followed suit, securing European Commission approval in the autumn of 2024 for its sweeping ban on disposable vapes. This decision represented a significant victory for health and environmental advocates, and came after months of heated debate about the public health risks and environmental damage associated with these products. In France, the policy served as a clear acknowledgment of the need to address these dual issues, further solidifying the momentum behind stricter regulation. It has not yet been fully approved by law-makers, but that looks likely to happen.
These decisions in Belgium and France mirror a broader trend emerging across Europe, like in Ireland, where health minister Stephen Donnelly secured Cabinet approval in September last year to draft legislation banning flavoured and disposable vapes. Again, this is likely to be approved by Ireland’s new coalition government.
Measures like these are spurring forward the conversation about the future of disposable vapes, and calls for harmonised regulation at EU level are growing louder, suggesting that more coordinated action may soon follow. Though it remains unclear whether an EU-wide ban could be fully realised, there is a noticeable move towards stricter regulatory measures; ideas gaining traction include enhanced recycling requirements, clear labelling to educate consumers about health risks, and restrictions on flavours that disproportionately attract young people.
Vape manufacturers, unsurprisingly, are pushing back. Many are lobbying for alternative approaches such as introducing improved recycling programmes or investing in biodegradable materials to align with emerging regulatory trends. Anticipating stricter policies, some companies are already pivoting towards reusable vape systems to secure their position in a rapidly evolving market.
European policy-makers will face a tough task in balancing public health goals, environmental sustainability, economic considerations and shifting consumer behaviours – not to mention the challenges in enforcement of disposable bans. The scale of these challenges is not really yet clear, although they should soon become so in Belgium and then the UK. Disposables may be disappearing from the market in some countries, but it’s unlikely they’ll disappear from the news just yet.
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