The Czech Ministry of Health is working on amending a law that could drastically change the e-cigarette market.
The new proposal seeks to ban the sale of all e-liquid flavors except tobacco, while also eliminating sweeteners and other additives. Interestingly, these new regulations would apply only to e-liquids for e-cigarettes, leaving traditional cigarettes and other nicotine products unaffected.
“We are shocked. Without any consultations, the Ministry is clearly planning to ban e-cigarettes in the Czech Republic,” warns Robert Hrdlička, Chairman of KEVAP (Chamber of Electronic Vaping). He emphasizes that the removal of additional substances and the restriction of flavors to only tobacco will lead to a decline in sales, affecting the entire industry. “The Ministry is imposing its own unrealistic vision of what tobacco should taste like,” he adds.
In addition, a new excise tax on e-cigarettes will come into effect in September, with the rate set to increase in the coming years. “The government’s approach is completely illogical. They first promoted e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, and now, through new regulations, they practically want to ban them altogether,” Hrdlička criticizes.
Industry experts warn that the flavor ban could push users back to traditional cigarettes or increase the smuggling of e-liquids from abroad. Currently, about 11% of the Czech population, or roughly one million people, use e-cigarettes.
Hrdlička highlights that e-cigarettes are one of the least harmful alternatives to smoking, as confirmed by numerous studies, and adds: “It is illogical for the authorities to target one category of products while ignoring the rest of the market.”
Instead of drastic restrictions, KEVAP proposes that the government focus on limiting access to e-cigarettes for minors, for example, through licensing sales points, which would allow for better market oversight and protection of younger consumers.
The proposed changes not only threaten the Vape industry in the Czech Republic but also pave the way for the rise of the black market. Are these changes a step towards destroying the Vape industry in our neighboring country?
