The Bulgarian Council of Ministers has submitted a landmark bill to Parliament amending the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco-Related Products. This legislative push directly addresses growing public concern over youth vaping by proposing a total ban on flavored e-cigarettes and introducing mandatory health warnings for heated tobacco products.
Under the proposed amendment, the sale of e-cigarettes featuring characteristic taste-aromatic qualities will be entirely prohibited. This ban extends to flavorings embedded in any part of the device, including filters, paper, packaging, and capsules. Additionally, any tobacco products containing additives that increase toxicity, addictiveness, or carcinogenic properties will be banned.
The bill also closes a regulatory loophole by subjecting heated tobacco products to the same strict labeling and warning requirements as smokeless tobacco. Currently, various nicotine-containing tobacco substitutes with concentrations ranging from 6mg to 50mg are sold freely without age restrictions. The new legislation aims to regulate these products to protect children and young people from high-nicotine exposure, forcing non-compliant stock to be phased out.
- News source: Bulgaria: No More Flavored E-Cigarettes from 2024
