The Minister of Health Kamil Šaško, together with experts and the Office of Public Health of the Slovak Republic, presents a draft law banning the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, flavored products with attractive flavors. The new legislation also tightens up some advertising activities and sanctions. The proposed legislation aims to reduce the prevalence of the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine-containing products, especially among vulnerable population groups (children and youth).
As Minister of Health, my role is to protect the health of our children and citizens. That is why I have decided to take action against attractive but extremely dangerous nicotine products, which have quietly become part of the everyday life of our teenagers, and K. Šaško, health minister, said.
- 35% of adolescents have already tried e-cigarette
- One in four children can easily buy it
As a father, I understand that nicotine in school bags is not just a health problem, it is a moral failure for us adults. Dependence begins quietly, the minister warns.
Major changes
- ban on the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes (which are not recharging)
- ban on the sale of flavoured products and cartridges for electronic cigarettes, filling bottles, herbal products and nicotine-free bags, with the exception of the flavours of menthol, mint and tobacco - these flavors, i.e. menthol, mint and tobacco, are not often sought by adolescents, but are important for adult consumers of these products, for which they may be a means of quitting smoking.
- prohibition to provide the consumer with any economic benefits when purchasing goods and services not directly related to their use (drinks, beer, equipment case and the like)
- Increased sanctions
- the introduction of a ban on the sale of related articles normally sold with tobacco and related products such as cigarette papers, packaging, filters, covers for persons under 18 years of age
Why we plan changes
- because even the use of such products harms health and flavored variants also attract young people, although they know it is not healthy
- We reduce the availability and attractiveness of products that contain flavors attractive especially for young people such as fruit, cola and candy
- we want to reduce healthcare expenditure associated with the consequences of tobacco use and related products
- disposable e-cigarettes represent a major environmental burden on production and consumption
Several EU countries have already adopted such and similar regulations, such as Denmark, Estonia, Slovenia, but also worldwide, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand. In Slovakia, the new legislation should apply in 2026.
