The Spanish government has approved a draft law designed to eliminate independent e-cigarette shops across the country within five years. Driven by a goal to align vaping standards with conventional tobacco and European regulations, the mandate will restrict all e-cigarette sales exclusively to state-licensed tobacconists.
The proposed legislation aims to tighten quality control, restrict advertising, and completely ban online sales to prevent minors from accessing vaping products. According to an official from the Spanish Embassy in Guangzhou, the law includes a five-year transition period but must first pass both the Spanish Congress and the EU Parliament before taking effect.
The Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA) has strongly condemned the draft, urging Spanish health authorities and regional governments to reconsider. The IEVA argues the measure effectively hands the entire independent vaping industry over to large tobacco companies.
The IEVA highlighted several critical concerns regarding the proposed ban:
- Violation of EU Law: The ban contradicts core EU principles of free competition and the free movement of goods within the internal market.
- Economic Damage: Shuttering specialized retail shops will lead to severe unemployment during a vulnerable economic period.
- Public Health Risks: Forcing vapers to purchase products at tobacconists exposes them directly to combustible tobacco, undermining their efforts to quit smoking.
