Poland’s proposed ban faces opposition inside the EU
Poland’s proposal to take away nearly each nicotine pouch flavour besides tobacco has encountered formal objections from Sweden, Romania, Slovakia and Greece beneath the European Union’s Technical Regulation Info System. Their detailed opinions have prolonged Poland’s standstill interval from August 6 to November 6, 2026, giving Warsaw extra time to clarify how its proposal complies with EU regulation and responds to proportionality considerations. Poland’s wider draft would additionally prohibit disposable vapes and place sure novel nicotine merchandise inside a pharmaceutical framework.
Sweden’s objection argues that Poland has not demonstrated {that a} near-total flavour ban is important or that much less restrictive measures could be insufficient. The Swedish submission factors to options corresponding to minimum-age legal guidelines, well being warnings, advertising and marketing controls, product requirements and cheap nicotine limits. It additionally notes that Poland’s proof on flavour preferences amongst youthful customers doesn’t set up that eradicating flavours for adults would scale back smoking or total inhabitants hurt.
Defending minors is reputable, however it doesn’t routinely justify eradicating adult-oriented merchandise that compete with cigarettes.
French retailer introduces age verification system
The retailer receives solely an adult-or-minor outcome relatively than the client’s biometric template or full id. Such expertise will not be flawless. A 2024 analysis by the US Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Know-how discovered that facial age-estimation methods had improved however different relying on the algorithm, picture high quality, demographic traits, and the consumer’s precise age. NIST cautioned that no single system constantly carried out finest throughout each take a look at.
The European Fee is shifting in the identical course. Its age-verification blueprint permits customers to show they’re above a required threshold with out disclosing their actual age or id. In April 2026, the Fee stated the technical answer was prepared for implementation and will function both independently or by means of future European digital id wallets.
Lithuania’s surprising vape tax
Its e-liquid responsibility elevated from €0.25 per millilitre in 2024 to €0.63 in 2025 and €1.56 in 2026. The present statutory schedule would elevate it to €3.91 per millilitre in 2027—a rise of roughly 1,464% over three years. Lithuania’s Finance Ministry confirms that the 2026 price is €1.56 per millilitre.
On the deliberate 2027 price, a 10ml bottle would carry €39.10 in excise earlier than VAT and industrial prices. Though vaping would technically stay authorized, extraordinary shoppers could possibly be priced out of the regulated market.
The tax additionally treats all liquid quantity equally, no matter nicotine focus. Somebody lowering nicotine energy however consuming extra liquid might due to this fact face the identical or a better tax burden.
A tax system designed with hurt discount in thoughts ought to create a big value distinction favouring non-combustible merchandise over cigarettes. Quite than making regulated e-liquids prohibitively costly, introducing reasonable duties, licensing, and tax stamps, and imposing strict measures towards unlawful sellers could be a extra wise strategy.
The Netherlands considers elevating nicotine age restrict to 21
Elevating the buying age particularly targets youthful shoppers, not like flavour bans or heavy taxes. Nonetheless, this strategy does elevate some sensible points. For starters, eighteen-year-olds are seen as authorized adults, making enforcement a bit difficult. Moreover, if close by international locations have totally different guidelines, this may with no shadow of a doubt result in cross-border purchases.
Europe Wants Proportionate, Threat-Based mostly Nicotine Regulation
These coverage disagreements don’t imply we should always have an unregulated nicotine market. Gross sales to minors should, in fact, be banned and prevented in any respect prices; on-line retailers should confirm ages; merchandise ought to adhere to security requirements; and people concerned in unlawful buying and selling have to face severe penalties. However regulation ought to positively think about that cigarettes are particularly harmful due to the burning tobacco. Nicotine pouches and vaping merchandise will not be fully risk-free, however they keep away from combustion and may supply grownup people who smoke a lot safer options.
Insurance policies must be judged not just by whether or not they scale back recorded gross sales of a selected product, however by whether or not they scale back smoking, illness and untimely loss of life. Restrictions that push shoppers again in the direction of cigarettes or illicit markets might seem powerful whereas producing the alternative of their supposed public well being outcome.
