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Belgium's Health Minister adeed that he wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation EU bloc. Alamy Stock Photo

Belgium becomes first EU country to ban sale of disposable vapes

On January 1, the country will become the first in the EU to introduce a ban on health and environmental grounds.

BELGIUM WILL BAN the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes from January 1 on health and environmental grounds, in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations.

Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the inexpensive e-cigarettes had turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine.

“Disposable e-cigarettes is a new product simply designed to attract new consumers,” he said.

“E-cigarettes often contain nicotine. Nicotine makes you addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is bad for your health. These are facts.”

Because they are disposable, the plastic, battery and circuits are a burden on the environment.

On top of that, “they create hazardous waste chemicals still present in what people throw away,” Vandenbroucke said.

The health minister said he also targeted the disposable e-cigarettes because reusable ones could be a tool to help people quit smoking if they cannot find another way.

Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive.

“We are the first country in Europe to do so,” Vandenbroucke said, adding that he wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation EU bloc.

“We are really calling on the European Commission to come forward now with new initiatives to update, to modernise, the tobacco legislation,” he said.

There is an understanding about Belgium’s decision, even in some shops selling electronic cigarettes, and especially on the environmental issue.

“The battery is still working. That’s what is terrible, is that you could recharge it, but you have no way of recharging it,” said Steven Pomeranc, owner of the Brussels Vapotheque shop. “So you can imagine the level of pollution it creates.”

A ban usually means a financial loss to the industry, but Pomeranc said he thinks it will not hurt too much.

“We have a lot of alternative solutions which are also very easy to use,” he said.

“Like this pod system, which are pre-filled with liquid, which can just be clipped into the rechargeable e-cigarette. So we will simply have a shift of clients towards this new system.”

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:07 AM

    Reminds me of the scene in only fools and horses when Albert was being questioned about being overseas in the war. He was actually stationed in a parts depot on the isle of white. The barrister says to him, the isle of white? hardly overseas? He replies, you wanna try and walk it pal!

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    Mute Social Guy
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    Dec 29th 2024, 9:32 AM

    Did nobody think to show him a map?

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    Mute Róisín Guffpuffin
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    Dec 29th 2024, 1:17 PM

    @Social Guy: or the sole of their boot.

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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Dec 29th 2024, 10:04 AM

    Another example of petty unionism. Oul Lizzie knew the score.

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    Mute Troll Hunter
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    Dec 29th 2024, 7:18 AM

    My god I was wondering for a min what was point of showing, a maybe not great moment for Trimble, in a kinda minor matter considering all things that had to be discussed over those tense years. Actually thought no need for that sort of stuff anymore… then I woke up and realised it’s all about Bertie the ‘hero’ .. One could think a Presidential campaign is ongoing. wonder will it be Bertie adds pop’n up.
    I for one do acknowledge his role in the GFA as I do many others and don’t omit them either.
    Bertie was a player in the details of the GFA, but after its conception was won by others.
    Is Bertie beating the British ongoing to be the campaign narrative.

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 29th 2024, 7:36 AM

    @Troll Hunter: Don’t panic. We’ll be given the chance to judge him at the ballot if he runs for president. We were afforded this opportunity for Martin McGuinness. He received just 13.7% of the vote.

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    Mute Pork Hunt
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:03 AM

    @honey badger: did northern Ireland have a vote in that 13.7?

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:13 AM

    @Pork Hunt: Different jurisdiction, porkie, of course not. It did highlight how his appeal wasn’t shared as universally as the shinner hagiographers insisted. ;)

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    Mute Troll Hunter
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:16 AM

    @honey badger: Morning Badger. I truly at first thought it was actually a low blow at Trimble..
    Is there any chance for once to have some sort of an actual conversation ? I know you hate SF/IRa an all that.. Many do, and for many reasons. It doesn’t surprise me, I can understand many of the reasons they have. I can understand soldier Jack hating them and all things Irish, when someone wants to kill you, it’s understandable that eventually you will get to hate and want to kill them in return. Will you tell us why you hate them so much ? Are you British, A soldier a Unionist etc? Don’t tell me if you dont want to .. but if you were I’d actually understand it and while never agree, respect it.

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:26 AM

    @Troll Hunter: This isn’t a therapy session, my friend. As I told you above, you’ll have a chance to judge Ahern if he runs for president. We all will. Don’t panic. Stay on topic. :)

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    Mute Troll Hunter
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:33 AM

    @honey badger: That came out all wrong, but intention was pure.. but never mind, a momentary lapse in judgment, in thinking you’d put your money where your mouth is.

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:55 AM

    @Troll Hunter: Your lapse was addressing yourself as “us” and the attendant arrogance of expecting a reply to a question that’s predicated on the assumption that I must be British, a soldier, or a Unionist to hold McGuinness in contempt. No wonder you still seem shocked that McGuinness wasn’t carried by cheering crowds to Aras…

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    Mute Troll Hunter
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    Dec 29th 2024, 9:03 AM

    @honey badger: I wasn’t assuming you were, I was saying that I understand those views coming from them.. as i said on other Ian Paisley article to the ex British para..

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    Mute Troll Hunter
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    Dec 29th 2024, 9:03 AM

    @honey badger: You’re a worse bigot now, than Paisley was then, before he accepting both histories, shaking hands like a man and moving on with goals of truly moving on…

    Think about that for a minute ..

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    Mute Troll Hunter
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    Dec 29th 2024, 9:06 AM

    @honey badger: comments are getting split for some reason and some pieces missing.. tedious enough to comment .. let alone without it getting mixed up.. so good day sir..

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 29th 2024, 9:19 AM

    @Troll Hunter: Nope. Your implication assumes that only british/soldiers/ unionists have an understandably dim view of McGuinness/SF. I suppose it’s easier to digest than 86% of the electorate rejecting old Marty/SF. I won’t even mention how 93% of the electorate rejected Liadh Ni Riada/SF in 2019 – you’ve enough to contens with ;)

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    Mute joe moody
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    Dec 29th 2024, 11:06 AM

    @honey badger: old Marty did a lot better than your buddy Alan Shatter! Now there’s a truly vile despicable man!

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 29th 2024, 11:39 AM

    @joe moody: Shatter was elected several times, served as minister for justice. Marty came down here, told lies on tv, didn’t get elected, and returned to his role as joint chief administrator of British rule of northern Ireland. Good old Marty! A true son of Roisin!

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    Mute Áine G
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:49 AM

    It gets more bizarre by the day.

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    Mute Liam deoráiste
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    Dec 29th 2024, 6:48 AM

    And now we have the WILD ATLANTIC WAY fantastic island we live in

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Dec 29th 2024, 4:36 PM

    We live on an island, everywhere else is overseas! But instead of it being noted , it turns in to another excuse for them to block what the people voted for.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Dec 29th 2024, 10:22 AM

    So build a bridge? Surely everyone would support that and then barmy reasoning would be er, less barmy

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    Mute John Moore
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    Dec 29th 2024, 2:40 PM

    @Thesaltyurchin: In one of the few things that Bojo actually followed through on when he was PM he commissioned a study which itself cost £1m into the feasibility of a bridge between NI and Scotland. The final cost came in at £400bn or something in that region. It would have to be closed for about 150 days a year due to the weather and the construction would have to navigate a WW1/WW2 munitions dump. It would also take decades to complete and would connect the middle of nowhere in NI to the middle of nowhere in Scotland. In other words it will never ever happen.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Dec 29th 2024, 8:05 PM

    @John Moore: These proud people would get it done.

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