EU countries demand new laws as vaping products slip through tax loopholes

A group of sixteen EU member-states (spearheaded by the Netherlands) are pushing for a much-needed update to the unions out-dated tobacco tax regulations. The current rules‚ written back in 2011 dont properly address modern vaping products which creates problems for the whole EU market

The supporting countries include France‚ Germany‚ and Denmark among others - theyʼve sent a joint-letter to the European Commission highlighting how the decade-old directive isnt working anymore. Each country now uses its own rules which messes up the EUʼs single-market concept; this creates an un-even playing field for businesses

The current situation shows clear issues: some countries have strict rules while others dont. In France‚ theres a no-vaping rule for people under 18 and its forbidden in many public spaces (including schools and transport). Italy has different ideas - they stopped their public vaping ban about 10 years ago but still keep it away from schools

• Germany wants EU-wide ban on disposable vapes
• France already moving to completely stop disposable vapes
• Different age limits across countries
• Various public space restrictions

Imperial Brands company (who makes blu vapes) thinks making tax rules the same everywhere could help both users and makers - as long as vape taxes stay lower than regular cigarette ones. The tobacco company states: unified rules would make things clearer for everyone in the market

The Commission‚ which started its new five-year term just this month needs to act fast - the update was supposed to happen two years ago but got delayed. Now with environmental worries about throw-away vapes and health concerns getting bigger its becoming more urgent than ever