German States Demand Ban on Disposable Vapes
Germany's state environment ministers have urged the federal government to swiftly implement a ban on disposable e-cigarettes. The environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe supports the call and demands prompt action.
Environment ministers from Germany's federal states have called on the national government to expedite the implementation of a promised ban on disposable e-cigarettes. The appeal was made at the Conference of Environment Ministers, with the environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) welcoming the decision and demanding swift action to establish a legally sound prohibition.
DUH's Managing Director Barbara Metz emphasized that the federal government should comply with the states' request without delay. Annually, over 60 million disposable e-cigarettes are generated as waste in Germany. The organization argues that these colorful devices particularly attract young people to nicotine addiction and, when improperly disposed of, cause fires and environmental pollution.
Metz criticized the shifting of responsibility for implementing the ban, stating that a legally compliant prohibition could have been established earlier through existing legislation. She noted that several European countries, including Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Switzerland, have already banned similar products. DUH urges the Chancellor to designate a responsible ministry and set a binding timeline for the ban on disposable vapes in Germany.
The move to ban disposable vapes aims to address growing concerns over waste generation, environmental impact, and health risks, especially among youth. DUH stresses that further delays will only exacerbate these issues.