German Federal Environment Ministry Calls for EU-Wide Ban on Disposable Vape

Berlin – Following the planned ban on disposable Vape in the UK from 2025, the German Federal Environment Ministry (BMUV) is advocating for a European Union-wide regulation on these products. Alongside the BMUV, the German Environmental Aid Association (DUH) is also calling for a strict ban due to the environmental impact of disposable Vape and their effects on the health of young people.

BMUV Pushes for EU-Wide Regulation on Disposable Vape

In a recent statement to the Funke Media Group, a spokesperson for the BMUV emphasized the necessity of an EU-wide regulation to prevent loopholes in the market. The spokesperson stated, “Only a comprehensive approach across the entire EU market can close loopholes and ensure that banned products do not enter countries through indirect routes from other EU nations.”

Environmental Impact of Disposable Vape

According to the BMUV spokesperson, disposable e-cigarettes should be denied market access due to their severely negative environmental footprint. “Their environmental balance is extremely poor: neither the battery nor the liquid can be replaced,” the spokesperson explained. Additionally, many consumers are unaware that disposable vapes qualify as electronic devices, leading to improper disposal. Improperly discarded Vape can cause fires in sorting facilities and contribute to increased littering.

New Regulations and Demands

Earlier this month, the German government passed an amendment to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act, which would require retailers to accept used disposable Vape for proper disposal. “Disposable Vape are classified as electronic devices and must be specially disposed of once they are no longer in use,” the BMUV spokesperson further stated. The amendment is currently under review by the German Federal Council.

Barbara Metz, Executive Director of the DUH, is calling for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes. “A ban is the only effective measure to protect both the environment and, above all, the health of young people,” Metz told the Funke newspapers. She added that disposable e-cigarettes are “a completely unnecessary and climate-damaging product” that no one needs. Metz noted that over five million disposable vapes are consumed in Germany every week, and described the German government’s proposed return policy as “completely inadequate.”