The Health Committee of Bulgaria’s National Assembly has proposed narrowing its planned vape ban to target only disposable e-cigarettes, retreating from an initial proposal for a total ban. This strategic shift, discussed during a parliamentary round table on the Tobacco Products Act, aims to bypass lengthy European Union notification procedures.
Health Committee Chairman Prof. Kostadin Angelov explained that a full ban would stall domestic progress for up to three years due to EU bureaucratic timelines. To achieve immediate results, lawmakers are focusing on disposables while also considering bans on flavored vapes and expanding regulatory enforcement powers.
However, the European Vape Industry Association warned of severe unintended consequences. The association projected that banning disposable vapes would cause illicit smuggling to surge by 2.5 to 3 times, while a ban on vape flavors could increase black-market trade by up to sixfold.
