Tag: Czech Republic

  • Czech Health Ministry Wants Ban on Flavored Vapes

    Czech Health Ministry Wants Ban on Flavored Vapes

    Credit: Piotr

    The Czech Health Ministry is drafting an amendment to a decree that could significantly impact the e-cigarette industry. The proposed changes would prohibit all flavors except tobacco, as well as sweeteners and other additives commonly used in e-liquids.

    These regulations would apply solely to vaping products, leaving traditional cigarettes and other nicotine alternatives unaffected. Industry representatives have responded with alarm, warning that this move could lead to the collapse of the entire sector.

    “We are stunned. Without any prior consultation, the ministry is essentially planning to ban e-cigarettes in the Czech Republic,” said Robert Hrdlička, chairman of the Chamber of Electronic Vaping (KEVAP).

    He argued that without the now-banned ingredients, tobacco-flavored e-liquids would be unsellable. “The ministry is imposing an amateurish and uninformed view on what tobacco should taste like,” Hrdlička added.

    In addition, a new excise tax on e-cigarettes is set to take effect in September, with further increases planned in the coming years, according to media reports. “The government’s approach is entirely illogical. First, they encourage e-cigarettes as a tool to reduce smoking, and now they’re essentially banning them,” Hrdlička criticized.

    Experts in the e-cigarette field warn that such a ban could push users back to conventional cigarettes or encourage smuggling of e-liquids from abroad.

  • Czechia Bans Flavors for Heated Tobacco Products

    Czechia Bans Flavors for Heated Tobacco Products

    Photo: diy13

    The sale of flavored heated-tobacco products (HTPs) will be banned in the Czech Republic, effective today, reports Expats.cz. A European directive requires that EU member states incorporate the ban into their legal frameworks effective Oct. 23. The directive does not allow for a transitional period for sale of existing stock.

    Slightly more than half of HTP users prefer flavored tobacco, according to Jiri Sochor, spokesperson for JT International. Sochor noted that based on U.S. ban results, some people reverted to traditional combustible cigarettes.

    The ban will not take effect simultaneously in neighboring countries, Sochor said, noting that only Germany has introduced it. Due to this, people are likely to purchase flavored products abroad.

    Flavored heated-tobacco products generate about CZK2.9 billion ($125.16 million) in consumer taxes annually, according to Sochor.

    Companies are responding to HTP flavors ban by introducing new, tobacco-free products. British American Tobacco, for example, has begun selling heat sticks with nicotine-infused rooibos tea. Certain tobacco firms have also opposed the ban, and the legislation will be addressed by the EU Court of Justice due to complaints from Irish companies.  

  • WVA Launches Vaping Campaign in Czech Republic

    WVA Launches Vaping Campaign in Czech Republic

    Credit: Rawf8

    The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) launched its European campaign to back vaping and beat smoking in Prague, Czech Republic, to encourage politicians to support vaping as an effective harm reduction tool.

    As a part of the campaign, WVA delivered the Vaping Products Directive to the Minister of Health in the Czech Republic. The global advocacy group for vapers’ rights hosted a protest art installation in the city center of Prague with the message “Don’t Let 19 Million Lives Fall.” The installation displayed a set of falling dominoes that represent lives fallen from smoke-induced illnesses, according to a release. 

    “Every year, more than 700,000 people in Europe and 17,000 in the Czech Republic die from tobacco-smoking illnesses. These are catastrophic numbers if we think about how many lives could be saved by consumer-friendly vaping regulations. Therefore, we hope the Czech government further increases its commitment towards harm reduction,” said Michael Landl, director of the WVA. “The Czech government also needs to push back against attacks on vaping and other less harmful alternatives on the EU level. Our #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign serves to raise awareness that 19 million lives in Europe could be saved if we embrace vaping as a powerful tool to quit smoking in the Czech Republic and on the EU level.”

    Along with the installation, WVA hosted a round-table discussion with the Czech experts and media representatives on the future of harm reduction in the Czech Republic.  Michal “Godwin” Zrdazil, the founder of Spolek Nekuraku and WVA partner, said the situation around tobacco smoking in the Czech Republic is still worrying.

    “Smoking numbers are one of the highest in Europe. But as vapers, we encourage the government to commit to tobacco harm reduction even more,” Nekuraku said. “Vaping has proven to be the most successful aid in helping people quit cigarette smoking and should be the cornerstone of the national harm reduction strategy against tobacco smoking,”

    WVA’s “Back Vaping, Beat Smoking” campaign has already been launched in France and Poland and will extend to Italy, Portugal, and Belgium in the coming weeks. WVA is also running a public petition to call on the European legislators to embrace vaping as a smoking cessation aid on the EU level. The petition is available at www.worldvapersalliance.com/back-vaping-beat-smoking.

  • Imperial Launches Tobacco-Heating Products in Czechia

    Imperial Launches Tobacco-Heating Products in Czechia

    Photo: Imperial Brands

    Imperial Brands has launched its heated-tobacco products in the Czech Republic.

    The launch is the first of two planned European pilot trials for the company’s Pulze device and iD heat sticks.

    Imperial is investing in heated-tobacco opportunities in a focused number of markets in Europe as part of its new strategy to build a targeted and sustainable next-generation product (NGP) business.

    The Czech pilot is the first step in Imperial’s approach of entering markets where the category is already established and where the business is able to leverage an existing strong route to market.

    “Heated-tobacco offers significant growth opportunities in Europe where, in many territories, it is the biggest NGP category and the fastest growing,” said Joerg Biebernick, Imperial Brands’ president of the European region, in a statement. “Detailed market testing will allow us to quickly expand our consumer insights and inform the potential to launch validated heated-tobacco products in further European markets.”

    Heated-tobacco currently accounts for around 10 percent of the total nicotine sector in the Czech Republic, with further strong growth anticipated.

    The Pulze device heats rather than burns iD heat sticks to provide nicotine and tobacco aromas containing fewer and substantially lower levels of the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

    Unlike other heated-tobacco products, the Pulze device does not require a charging case, offering up to 20 consecutive uses. It is available in copper and silver colors.

    iD heat sticks are being made available in five flavors: Rich Bronze with rich tobacco flavor and triple flow filter technology, Balanced Blue, Mint Polar Green, Mint Ice and Capsule Polar.