Vapes with tempting flavors banned from September 2028: only ‘tobacco’ and ‘neutral’ are still allowed | News

The federal government will introduce a ban on tempting flavors in vapes from September 1, 2028. Only the flavors ‘tobacco’ and ‘neutral’ are still allowed. The Council of Ministers decided this, government sources report to HLN and VTM NIEUWS.

“We want to protect the health of our children and young people and prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to smoking,” explains Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit). “Vapes, with their attractive flavors, are deliberately made to tempt young people to smoke. This is unacceptable and must stop.”

The use of vapes among Belgian young people has increased explosively in recent years. Flavors such as mint, apple, popcorn or raspberry make vapes more attractive.

“Research shows that they make young people experiment more quickly,” says pulmonologist Pieter Goeminne, member of BeRS (Belgian Respiratory Society). That organization advocated a ban on flavors.

The flavor ban on vapes should ensure that young people do not start vaping on the one hand and, on the other hand, stop because it becomes less interesting to use vapes.

“It is our obligation to protect people’s health, especially that of young people, and to ensure that they come into less contact with tobacco or alternative smoking methods such as vapes,” Vandenbroucke continues.

“The vape is an invention of a criminal industry that wants to make a new generation of children addicted to nicotine. The countless flavors camouflage the enormous harmfulness of the product. While children and young people enjoy the taste of bubble gum, popcorn or raspberry, they ingest nicotine or even tar or pesticides.” With the ban, the minister wants to break the power of the tobacco lobby.

Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) based his bill on advice from the Supreme Health Council.

Earlier this week, the British Parliament decided to introduce such a smoking ban. In concrete terms, no one born after 2008 will be able to legally buy tobacco from 2027 onwards.