Tag: Switzerland

  • Switzerland Set to Ban Disposable Vape Products

    Switzerland Set to Ban Disposable Vape Products

    Photo: twinsterphoto

    Swiss lawmakers voted on June 12 to ban sales of disposable vapes, reports the Swiss Broadcasting Corp.

    The motion calls on the government to amend the Federal Act on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes so that single-use vapes may no longer be offered for sale in Switzerland.   

    “’Puff bars’ are attractive to young people due to their many flavors and bright colors and are therefore becoming increasingly popular, said Green Party parliamentarian Christophe Clivaz, using the brand name of a popular vape brand to refer to all cigarettes.

    Switzerland imported 10 million units in 2022, he added. 

    Clivaz lamented the environmental impact of improperly disposed vapes and the addictive nature of nicotine products. Clean-up efforts cost millions and the health effects of disposable cigarettes have been insufficiently researched, he noted.

    Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider voted against the House of Representatives’ motion, which the Federal Council, Switzerland’s executive body, considers premature.

    The proposal will now move the Senate.

  • Switzerland: Illegal E-Liquid Levels in Disposables

    Switzerland: Illegal E-Liquid Levels in Disposables

    Credit: Anthony Brown

    The Swiss Association for Smoking Prevention has said that most disposable electronic cigarettes sold in Switzerland do not comply with the law. The quantity of liquid and nicotine levels exceed the authorized thresholds.

    The standards in force in Switzerland are based on a 2014 European directive. This stipulates that each “electronic cigarette with a so-called closed system”, also known as “puff bars”, may not contain more than 2ml volume of liquid. This corresponds to around 600 puffs.

    However, according to the association’s study, more than half the products sold on the Swiss market exceed this value. Puffs offering 1500 or 2500 puffs are “commonly available” on online sales sites or in stores, according to media reports. But it’s even possible to order puffs online with a 30 ml tank, i.e. 16,000 puffs. That’s 15 times more than the legal limit.

    The survey also denounced excessive nicotine percentages, even though the law stipulates that a disposable electronic cigarette may not contain more than 20 mg/ml of nicotine. Some cantons had reacted and forced certain stores to withdraw these products from sale following a study published in March 2022.

    The association does, however, mention a site where puffs containing a concentration of 50 mg/ml can be purchased. It is also “easy” to order puffs directly from Chinese sites, with no restrictions on volume or nicotine concentration, and have them delivered to Switzerland.

  • Canton of Basel Bans Some Sales of Vaping Products

    Canton of Basel Bans Some Sales of Vaping Products

    Credit: Claude Wangen

    After testing 32 disposable e-cigarettes, the cantonal laboratory in Basel City, Switzerland, said it found problems with all of them and issued a sales ban on seven for containing toxic substances, reported SRF.

    The e-cigarettes were obtained from 12 sales outlets in the city. The problems detected include nicotine above the maximum legal limit, lead in metal joints, toxins linked to infertility and the presence of undisclosed additives.

    Smoking rates are high in Switzerland. An estimated 27 percent of the population 15 and over smokes, and 42 percent of men aged between 25 and 34 are smokers.

  • Switzerland Set to Ban Vape, Tobacco Advertising

    Switzerland Set to Ban Vape, Tobacco Advertising

    Credit: Anthony Brown

    Switzerland will ban advertising of tobacco products and e-cigarettes aimed at young people, the government said, implementing a decision passed in a referendum last year.

    The cabinet said it would strengthen its already planned restrictions to bar advertising in places and media where young people can see it.

    The new laws will come into force from mid-2026, and strengthen restrictions on packaging and advertising on tobacco and e-cigarettes due to take effect from next year, reports Reuters.

    The move, which will affect print media, online advertising and festivals, is designed to reduce tobacco consumption and related deaths.

    Smoking remains relatively widespread in Switzerland with 9,500 people dying prematurely every year as a result of tobacco consumption, the government said, describing it as one of the country’s biggest public health problems.

    “Tobacco use causes numerous non-communicable diseases, and the cost of their medical treatment amounts to 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.37 billion) per year,” the government said.

    In future, no advertising for tobacco products or e-cigarettes will be allowed in print media, shops or events which can be visited by minors.

    In addition, sponsorship of events which people under 18 attend will be banned. Online advertising will be still permitted provided age control systems are in place.

    The tighter restrictions follow the success of the referendum “Yes to the protection of children and youths from tobacco advertising,” which was approved by 57% of Swiss voters in February 2022.

  • Study: French-Speaking Swiss Youth Use E-Cigs

    Study: French-Speaking Swiss Youth Use E-Cigs

    One in eight youth aged 14 to 25 in French-speaking Switzerland is a frequent e-cigarette user, reports Le News.

    A study by Unisante, which surveyed 1,362 young people, 59 percent said they had consumed e-cigarettes at least once and 12 percent said they used them frequently (more than 10 days over the past month). Of those that responded, 59 percent said they consume the products when out at night while 40 percent said they consume them at home. The survey showed that 63 percent of respondents preferred e-cigarettes because of the flavors while 40 percent cited lack of tobacco smell and 30 percent cited ease of use.

    Disposables are the most popular choice for youth, and 49.4 percent of respondents said their parents knew they used the products. Half of respondents said they’d seen advertising for the products, and two-thirds were aware of the health risks and risk of addiction.

    In Switzerland, 19 percent of those aged 15 to 24 smoked combustible cigarettes daily in 2017.

  • Switzerland to Debate Proposed Vapor Tax Plan

    Switzerland to Debate Proposed Vapor Tax Plan

    Photo: Stockfotos-MG

    Switzerland’s Federal Council has put forward a plan to tax e-liquids, reports Le News, citing Radio Television Suisse.

    The proposal calls for taxing e-liquids at a rate that is 77 percent lower than that levied on combustible cigarettes.

    The government wants to discourage young people from taking up vaping without discouraging smokers from transitioning to less unhealthy products.

    One idea is to tax the nicotine content in e-cigarette liquids for open systems. This would mean taxes rising with rising nicotine content. For single use e-cigarettes or devices using cartridges, the tax would be levied based on the quantity of liquid contained in them regardless of the nicotine contained in them.

     According to the government, such a tax would be easy to put in place and would generate around CHF 15.5 million a year, money which would be used to help fund old age pensions and disability benefits.

    The Federal Council’s proposal, which will be discussed until March 31, 2022, responds to a motion approved by the parliament and the Council of States in March 2021.