Tag: Denmark

  • Born After 2010? Denmark Plans to Ban All Nicotine Sales

    Born After 2010? Denmark Plans to Ban All Nicotine Sales

    Credit: Maxim Grebeshkov

    Denmark plans to ban the sale of cigarettes and nicotine products to anyone born after 2010, the country’s Denmark’s Ministry of Health has announced.

    Health minister Magnus Heunicke said the policy change would prevent the next generation from smoking any form of tobacco, according to The Independent.

    “Our hope is that all people born in 2010 and later will never start smoking or using nicotine-based products,” Heunicke said. “If necessary, we are ready to ban sales to this generation [born in 2010] by gradually raising the purchase age limit.”

    Under current laws in Demark, people under the age of 18 are banned from buying tobacco and electronic cigarettes. But around 31 percent of those aged between 15 and 29 are smokers, Heunicke said.

    New Zealand announced plans to outlaw buying cigarettes for anyone born after 2008. The ban is expected to come into force this year.

    Additionally, the government plans to introduce major tobacco controls such as reducing the amount of nicotine in products and restricting where cigarettes can be sold.

  • EU Commission Opposes Danish Flavor Ban

    EU Commission Opposes Danish Flavor Ban

    Photo: Sharon Ang from Pixabay

    The European Commission has opposed a ban on vaping flavors put forward by the Danish government, according to the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).

    “It is a victory both for vaping and common sense,” said UKVIA Director John Dunne said in a statement.

    Denmark wants to introduce a flavor ban on both nicotine and non-nicotine containing e-liquids, where only tobacco and menthol flavors will be permitted. According to the Danish Vapers Association (DADAFO), the proposed ban would have affected between 85 percent and 90 percent of adult vapers in Denmark with the potential of driving up to 70,000 Danish ex-smokers back to cigarettes. The move would have also forced 90 percent of vape shops to close, DADAFO said.

    “Flavors play a hugely important role in encouraging smokers to switch to vaping, a much less harmful product,” said Dunne. “Crucially, vape flavors provide choices for ex-smokers to ensure they do not relapse.”

    “The effect of banning flavored liquids on deterring adult vapers from using vape products to help them quit or reduce their smoking was acknowledged by Public Health England earlier this year in its annual vaping evidence review. The review also stated that a ban could also push current adult vapers towards illicit products.”

    According to the European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, the Danish Ministry of Health sent a notification of this to the European Commission on April 17 with a standstill period of three months during which the Commission had to comment whether it believes that the Danish government can legally amend the existing laws as proposed.