Disposable vape legislation and bans in Europe: which vapes will remain available and how to adapt your product range to regulatory requirements

Available product categories	Status in most EU markets	Notes
Refillable open systems	Legal	One of the most stable product categories.
Modular and pod systems	Legal	Rechargeable devices with replaceable pods are the main alternative to disposable vapes.
Refill e-liquids and nicotine salts	Legal	Key consumable products for reusable devices.
Nicotine-free e-cigarettes and e-liquids	Depends on the country	Availability depends on national legislation.
Accessories (pods, cartridges, tanks, coils and chargers)	Generally legal	Complements the range of reusable devices.
Nicotine pouches	Depends on the country	Whether they can be included in the product range depends on the rules of the specific country.
Heated tobacco products	Legal	A separate product category with its own regulatory framework.

Regulatory requirements for individual product categories

When adding products to your range, it is not enough simply to check compliance with the TPD. Depending on the product category, other European regulations and national requirements may also apply.

The following table summarises the most important differences.

Category	EU-level regulation	What most commonly differs between countries
Refillable open systems	The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) sets, among other requirements, a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml, a maximum refill bottle volume of 10 ml and a maximum tank or cartridge capacity of 2 ml. Products must be notified and comply with labelling, health warning and safety requirements.	Rules may differ particularly in relation to permitted flavours, labelling, notification, registration, taxation and distance selling.
Modular and pod systems	Rechargeable devices with replaceable pods or cartridges are subject to the same TPD rules as other e-cigarettes and refill containers when they contain nicotine. Depending on their design, the devices themselves may also be subject to product safety, battery and electronic waste requirements.	National definitions of reusable devices may differ. The French ban, for example, excludes separately replaceable cartridges. In the United Kingdom, devices must meet the charging and refilling requirements laid down in national legislation.
Refill e-liquids and nicotine salts	Nicotine-containing refill products are subject to Article 20 of the TPD and must be notified through the EU Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG). Requirements include a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml and a maximum refill bottle volume of 10 ml.	The most common differences concern permitted flavours, excise duties, registration requirements and labelling. Permitted flavours may be restricted in some countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark and Estonia.
Disposable vapes	Nicotine-containing disposable e-cigarettes are subject to the technical and information requirements of the TPD. However, the directive itself does not impose an EU-wide ban on this category, and individual countries may introduce their own restrictions.	Some countries, including Belgium, France and the United Kingdom, have banned their sale, while others are preparing similar legislation.
Nicotine-free e-cigarettes and e-liquids	The TPD does not regulate nicotine-free e-cigarettes and e-liquids uniformly. Depending on the type of product, other European legislation may also apply, including the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).	Rules for nicotine-free products differ between countries. National legislation may regulate composition, flavours, labelling, age limits and market-entry requirements.
Accessories (pods, cartridges, tanks, coils and chargers)	Depending on the type and design of the product, the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), the WEEE Directive or the Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation may apply. Electrical devices may be subject to obligations relating to safety, traceability, labelling and electronic waste management.	Specific obligations may differ depending on national implementation, particularly in relation to producer registration, electronic waste take-back, recycling and placing products on the market.
Nicotine pouches	Nicotine pouches are not regulated as electronic cigarettes under Article 20 of the TPD. There are currently no uniform EU rules comparable to those applicable to e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches are regulated primarily under national legislation.	Individual countries may set nicotine content limits, restrict flavours, regulate labelling, advertising and age limits, or prohibit their sale. For example, France has banned nicotine pouches and other tobacco-free oral nicotine products.
Heated tobacco products	Heated tobacco products form a separate category of tobacco products regulated under the TPD. Different rules apply to them than to electronic cigarettes, including specific labelling and health warning requirements.	Rules may differ between countries in relation to flavours, taxation, advertising, product displays and other national restrictions.

Ban on disposable vapes (e-cigarettes) in Europe: an overview of the most important national measures – as at July 2026

The table summarises the most significant bans on disposable vapes and related national restrictions.

It does not cover all the rules in force in individual countries, so it is always advisable to check the current legislation before entering a specific market.

Country	Status	National measure	Notes
Belgium	Ban effective from 1 January 2025	A complete ban on the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes.	Online sales of e-cigarettes to consumers are also prohibited.
France	Ban effective from 25 February 2025	Pre-filled devices that cannot be refilled after use are prohibited, even if they have a rechargeable battery.	Separately replaceable cartridges are not covered by the ban.
United Kingdom	Ban effective from 1 June 2025	The sale of disposable vapes with or without nicotine is prohibited.	Rechargeable and refillable devices remain legal.
Netherlands	Flavour restrictions	Only tobacco flavour is permitted.	This is not a general ban on disposable vapes.
Denmark	Flavour restrictions	Only tobacco and menthol flavours are permitted.	This is not a general ban on disposable vapes.
Estonia	Flavour restrictions and tax marking	Only tobacco and menthol flavours are permitted; e-liquids are subject to excise stamps.	Distance sales of regulated products are also restricted.
Czech Republic	Flavour restrictions, with new rules effective from 1 December 2025	There is no general ban on disposable e-cigarettes. Decree No. 429/2025 Coll. introduced stricter requirements for electronic cigarettes and refill containers.	From 1 July 2026, placing vapes and refill containers containing any cannabinoids on the market is also prohibited.
Norway	New regulatory framework from 30 March 2026	Norway adopted the TPD rules but retained its ban on nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and refill containers.	The restriction applies to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes generally, not only to disposable products.
Ireland	Legislative process / approved measure	A ban on disposable electronic cigarettes is being prepared.	Before entering the market, it is advisable to verify the current legislative status and effective date.
Bulgaria	Legislative process / approved measure	A ban on disposable electronic cigarettes is being prepared.	Before entering the market, it is advisable to verify the current legislative status and effective date.
Poland	Legislative process	A ban on disposable electronic cigarettes is being prepared.	Before entering the market, it is advisable to verify the current legislative status and effective date.

Information current as at 30 July 2026.

In most other EU Member States, such as Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Sweden and Finland, no blanket ban on the sale of single-use e-cigarettes had been introduced by July 2026.

The requirements of the TPD and any additional national rules apply to the placing of products on the market in these countries.

EU vaping regulations: what distributors and retailers need to know

European regulation of vaping products is based primarily on the TPD, which is supplemented in a number of areas by the national rules of individual Member States.

The EU regulatory framework and scope for national bans and restrictions

The key piece of legislation governing e-cigarettes at EU level is Directive 2014/40/EU on tobacco products, known as the TPD.

Article 20 sets out the rules for e-cigarettes and nicotine-containing refills placed on the consumer market.

As summarised by the European Commission on its page dedicated to the regulation of e-cigarettes, the TPD regulates in particular:

• a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml,
• a maximum volume of 2 ml for single-use e-cigarettes, cartridges and tanks,
• a maximum volume of 10 ml for refill products.

It also imposes on manufacturers and importers an obligation to notify the competent authorities of Member States of their products before placing them on the market.

It also sets out requirements regarding composition, safety, health warnings, information leaflets and product labelling.

It also prohibits certain misleading or promotional elements on packaging and certain forms of cross-border advertising and sponsorship.

The TPD came into force on 19 May 2014 and has been applied in Member States since 20 May 2016.

Compliance with the TPD does not automatically grant access to all EU markets

It is important for distributors and retailers to know which requirements stem directly from European legislation and in which areas individual Member States may introduce their own rules.

For example, the TPD does not apply to e-cigarettes and refills, which are authorised as medicinal products under EU regulations for medicinal products for human use or as medical devices.

These products are subject to a different legal regime from that applicable to standard e-cigarettes placed on the market under the TPD.

In its 2021 report on the application of the TPD, the European Commission notes that Member States continue to adopt their own rules in areas not uniformly regulated by the Directive. This applies, for example, to:

• flavour restrictions,
• the regulation of nicotine-free e-cigarettes,
• age limits,
• and bans on the use of products in certain places.

This means that a product’s compliance with the TPD alone may not be sufficient for it to be legally placed on the market in all Member States.

Before entering a specific market, it is therefore advisable to also check the national requirements regarding:

• product composition,
• permitted flavours,
• labelling,
• notification,
• tax obligations,
• rules on distance selling,
• and any bans on certain product categories.

Other European regulations affecting vaping products

In addition to the TPD, electronic cigarettes and related devices may also be subject to other EU regulations.

• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2183 establishes a common format for the notification of electronic cigarettes and refills to the competent authorities of the Member States.

• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/586 sets out technical requirements for the filling mechanisms of electronic cigarettes to ensure that devices can be filled without liquid leakage and to limit the user’s contact with the nicotine refill.

• For devices with a built-in battery, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries is also relevant.

Article 11 of this Regulation will apply from 18 February 2027 and introduces requirements regarding the removability and replaceability of portable batteries incorporated into products.

The general rule is that it must be possible for the end user to easily remove and replace the battery. However, the Regulation also sets out exceptions, and it is therefore necessary to assess the compliance of a specific design on a case-by-case basis.

These rules may significantly affect the design of single-use devices and certain rechargeable devices that are difficult to repair.

However, it cannot be automatically inferred from the text of the Regulation that there will be a blanket ban on all single-use vapes from February 2027.

• At the same time, electronic cigarettes containing electrical or electronic components fall within the scope of the WEEE scheme under Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Depending on a company’s position in the supply chain, this may give rise to obligations relating to manufacturer registration, the financing of waste collection and treatment, labelling or take-back schemes.

The specific implementation of these obligations is governed by the law of individual Member States.

• In addition, Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (GPSR) may also apply.

This sets out horizontal requirements for the safety of consumer products, traceability, cooperation between economic operators and supervisory authorities, and the information to be provided in online offers.

For products regulated by specific EU legislation, the GPSR applies to those safety aspects and risks not covered by such specific legislation.

For distance selling, the key requirement is that the online offer must include the identification details of the manufacturer or the responsible economic operator, the product identification, and the relevant warnings or safety information.

What do the differing rules mean for distributors and retailers?

European countries currently regulate the vape market in different ways. Consequently, the same product may not be legally saleable in all countries.

On the one hand, there are Belgium, France and the United Kingdom, where a ban on single-use vapes is already in force.

On the other hand, there are, for example, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Estonia, which, instead of a blanket ban, have tightened the rules on flavours, distribution and the placing of products on the market.

Key requirements for placing vaping products on the market

When placing vaping products on the market, it is necessary to take into account not only the requirements of the TPD, but also national rules and other European regulations.

The most important obligations relate in particular to the following areas.

1. Product notification remains a fundamental requirement

Manufacturers and importers must notify new or substantially modified electronic cigarettes and refills via the EU-CEG system at least six months before placing them on the market.

This obligation stems from the TPD and, in the Czech Republic for example, is also highlighted by the State Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority (SZPI).

➡️ The fact that a product is available from a foreign supplier does not automatically mean that it can be placed on the Czech or any other European market. Before adding a product to the range, it is necessary to verify compliance with the notification requirement in the relevant country.

2. A single packaging design may not be suitable for the whole of Europe

In addition to notification, it is also necessary to comply with requirements regarding labelling, product safety and design.

The TPD Directive sets out requirements for:

• product composition and nicotine content limits,
• the design and technical specifications of electronic cigarettes,
• the labelling and safety of electronic cigarettes and refills,
• the maximum capacity of refills, cartridges and tanks.

In the Czech Republic, an amendment to Decree No. 37/2017 Coll. has also introduced new requirements regarding the appearance and labelling of products, including the graphic warning ‘This product is not intended for persons under the age of 18.’

➡️ For companies selling to multiple countries, this means that packaging, instructions and labelling usually need to be adapted to individual markets.

3. Cross-border sales are subject to further rules

When selling to end customers, it is also necessary to take into account age verification rules and cross-border distance selling.

In most EU Member States, the sale of e-cigarettes is permitted only to persons aged 18 and over, although specific rules may vary from country to country.

Furthermore, cross-border distance selling may be subject to specific registration or notification requirements under national legislation.

➡️ E-shop operators should ensure they comply with the requirements of every country to which they sell products.

4. Enforcement is becoming increasingly strict

A number of European countries are simultaneously stepping up enforcement of the rules.

France has imposed heavy penalties for breaching the ban on single-use e-cigarettes, including the possibility of imposing a sales ban.

In the Netherlands, too, intensive checks on compliance with the ban on flavoured e-cigarettes are continuing.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is inspecting manufacturers, importers, distributors, high-street shops and online retailers, and taking action against products that do not comply with current regulations.

➡️ Inspections now cover not only high-street shops, but also distributors, online sales and products placed on the market.

5. The importance of environmental requirements is growing

In addition to tobacco legislation, vaping devices are increasingly subject to regulations concerning electronic waste, batteries and product safety.

These include, in particular:

• the WEEE Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment,
• the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542,
• the GPSR on general product safety.

➡️ This means that when selecting suppliers, it is advisable to verify not only compliance with tobacco legislation, but also fulfilment of obligations arising from regulations concerning batteries, e-waste and product safety.

Expected changes in 2027–2028: taxes and device design

Regulation of vaping products will not be limited to their composition or placing on the market. Further changes are also being prepared in the areas of taxation and device design.

In July 2025, the European Commission presented a proposal to revise the Tobacco Taxation Directive.

It proposes extending the minimum excise duty to e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. If the proposal is approved by the Council of the EU, the new rules are set to come into force from 2028.

Significant changes will also be brought about by Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries.

From 18 February 2027, there will generally be a requirement for portable batteries in products placed on the market to be easily removable and replaceable, whilst the European Commission is currently preparing implementing rules and addressing exemptions for selected product categories.

Although the specific impact on individual types of vaping devices will depend on the final interpretation and implementing regulations, the long-term regulatory direction is clear.

European legislation is placing ever greater emphasis on longer product lifespans, the ability to replace batteries, reparability and more efficient waste management, which may influence the future design of certain vaping devices.

The bans primarily concern single-use e-cigarettes

Legislative developments to date show that most of the measures adopted do not target vaping as such, but primarily single-use products.

For example, France has banned the placing on the market of pre-filled devices that cannot be refilled once used up. Reusable systems with separately replaceable cartridges are not affected by this ban.

Similarly, the United Kingdom has banned the sale of disposable vapes from 1 June 2025, whilst rechargeable and refillable devices remain legal.

What does this mean for distributors and retailers?

Tighter regulations mean that monitoring European and national legislation is becoming a standard part of product portfolio management.

In countries that have already banned single-use vapes or are preparing such legislation, the importance of reusable vaping systems – such as rechargeable devices, refill systems or devices with replaceable pods – is growing.

These categories remain legal in most European markets, provided they comply with the requirements of both EU and national legislation. For example, the United Kingdom continues to permit the sale of rechargeable and refillable devices following the ban on single-use vapes.

How the European market is changing: what to expect in 2026–2028

• Other countries may introduce bans on single-use e-cigarettes or restrict flavours,
• the European Commission is preparing a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and discussions are continuing on the taxation of new nicotine products,
• the importance of national rules on product registration, labelling and composition will grow,
• and greater emphasis will also be placed on requirements relating to batteries, electronic waste and product safety.

 

Sources:

European legislation

Tobacco Products Directive (TPD)

• eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/40/oj/eng
• eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014L0040-20231023

European Commission – regulation of e-cigarettes

• health.ec.europa.eu/tobacco/product-regulation/electronic-cigarettes_en
• health.ec.europa.eu/tobacco/evaluation-legislative-framework-tobacco-control_en
• eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0249

EU-CEG (product notifications)

• health.ec.europa.eu/eu-common-entry-gate-eu-ceg_en
• health.ec.europa.eu/eu-common-entry-gate-eu-ceg/step-by-step-guide_en
• health.ec.europa.eu/tobacco/product-regulation/implementing-tobacco-products-directive-directive-2014/40/eu/notifications-under-article-243-of-the-tobacco-products-directive_en

Implementing regulations for the TPD

• eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2015/2183/oj
• eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2016/586/oj

Environmental legislation

• eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2012/19/oj/eng
• eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1542/oj/eng environment.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-seeks-views-battery-removability-exemptions-2026-04-28_en

GPSR

• eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/988/oj/eng

National sources

• cabvs.be/en/blog/ban-on-disposable-e-cigs-from-01-01-2025
• legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000051244550
• legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000047293616
• service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18450
• gov.uk/guidance/single-use-vapes-ban
• government.nl/themes/family-health-and-care/smoking/government-measures-to-discourage-smoking
• sst.dk/vidensbase/forebyggelse/tobak-og-nikotin/fakta-om-tobak-og-nikotin/typer-af-tobaks-og-nikotinprodukter
• emta.ee/en/news/excise-duty-exemption-e-liquids-ends
• regjeringen.no/en/topics/health-and-care/public-health/tobacco-control-policy/id426168/
• gov.pl/web/premier/ban-on-disposable-e-cigarettes-and-cybersecurity-strategy
• parliament.bg/en/news/ID/6317
• mzd.gov.cz/amendment-to-the-decree-on-electronic-cigarettes-refills-for-them-and-herbal-products-intended-for-smoking/
• szpi.gov.cz/article/information-on-tobacco-products-electronic-cigarettes-and-refills-common-entry-point-eu-eu-ceg.aspx
• zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2017-37

Taxation

taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/taxation/excise-duties/excise-duties-tobacco/revision-tobacco-taxation-directive-proposal_en

Public health and the use of e-cigarettes by young people

• health.ec.europa.eu/publications/electronic-cigarettes_en
• who.int/europe/news/item/08-10-2025-who-european-region-has-the-highest-rate-of-tobacco-use-in-the-world--with-an-alarming-rise-in-young-people-using-e-cigarettes--global-report-warns

New psychoactive substances and cannabinoids

euda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2025/new-psychoactive-substances_en

 

Author:  Patricie Mikolášová 

 

   

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