Last week, the Bulgarian Parliament unanimously voted, in the first reading, to impose a complete ban on the marketing, sale, distribution, and advertising of both disposable and reusable electronic cigarettes -commonly known as vapes – regardless of nicotine content.

This legislative move aims to address concerns about the unregulated trade of illegal electronic cigarettes containing substances such as marijuana and cannabinoids, which have been observed near schools and sold in online black markets.

The Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA) is alarmed and concerned over this blanket ban. Dustin Dahlmann, President of IEVA, states that conflating illegal drug use with regulated e-cigarettes is misleading and counterproductive. He emphasizes that “legal e-cigarettes have nothing to do with drug use.”

The European Commission has so far not been notified as required by EU law, and lawmakers plan to enforce the ban abruptly without any formal process. This hasty approach bypasses essential consultation and regulatory principles, jeopardising Bulgaria’s vaping sector and posing serious risks to both the industry and public health initiatives.

“To ban vaping will have dramatic effects on public health, because smokers will no longer be able to switch to an alternative that is 95% less harmful than tobacco,” says Dustin Dahlmann.

IEVA advocates for a more nuanced approach that distinguishes between illicit substances and regulated vaping products, ensuring that adult smokers retain access to less harmful alternatives.

IEVA urges Bulgarian lawmakers to consider evidence-based measures that would effectively address youth access to illegal substances without depriving adult smokers of viable harm reduction tools. IEVA remains committed to collaborating with authorities to develop regulations that protect public health while acknowledging the role of vaping products in reducing smoking-related harm.