As of October 2023, the EU will ban the sale of heated tobacco products with characterizing flavours. Any heated tobacco products with characterizing flavours will no longer be available for adult users in the EU.
What Is a Characterizing Flavour?
According to the EU, products with characterizing flavour are those with any clearly noticeable smell or taste other than one of tobacco, and is noticeable before or during the consumption of the tobacco product.
This is not the first time the EU has implemented regulations on flavoured tobacco and general tobacco products. In 2016, the European Tobacco Products Directive limited the sale of certain tobacco products. The directive affected products like roll-your-own tobacco and cigarettes.
Information about Heated Tobacco Products in Greece
After the ban, heated tobacco products with aroma and flavor of tobacco will still be available in Greece.
Learn about heated tobacco.
When Will Heated Tobacco Characterizing Flavours Be Banned?
The European Union proposed characterizing flavoured heated tobacco restrictions in June 2022. This marked the beginning of a formal EU-wide process, culminating in a ban on the sale of characterizing flavoured heated tobacco. The European Commission has announced its expectation that the ban will take effect across EU Member States as of 23rd of October 2023. Find all of the key dates here.
Heated tobacco products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids. The best decision for any adult smoker is to quit tobacco and nicotine consumption altogether.
