One-offs are not looking good in Europe in the near future, from the UK, to Ireland to Belgium.
Today I saw a piece of news that caused concern, that is, Belgium has started the process of banning disposable sales in 2025, including significantly reducing the number of restricted flavors. At the same time, Belgium is also the European electronic atomization logistics distribution center, and a large number of Chinese electronic atomizers are “transshipped” into the European market from the port here.
According to Overseas Network Mustique, Belgian Public Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke recently announced at a plenary session of parliament that he plans to ban the sale of disposable vaping products from 2025. Vandenbroucke said that Belgium is already in a leading position in Europe and that the issue has been submitted to the European Commission in 2021. He hopes to receive a positive response early next year and plans to ban the sale of such products from 2025. And, from early next year, the sale of vaping products with lights and other gadgets will be banned.
(Belgium’s disposable vape ban is coming too?)
According to a survey released by the Belgian Cancer Prevention Foundation, 35% of young people aged 15 to 20 have used e-vaping, and 32% of them have used it within the past year.
In response to questions from MPs, Vandenbroek proposed a five-point action plan. It is necessary to strengthen the supervision of the retail system. He wants to create a “mystery shopper” system that would penalize stores that break the law. Vandenbroucke said he is working on a bill that would require businesses to ask customers their age if they appear to be under 25.
In addition, sales methods are also restricted. He also wants to ban vaping from being displayed in windows or display cases. It is also beginning to significantly reduce the number of authorized flavors and is implementing a ban on displaying tobacco products at point-of-sale as soon as possible.
Previously, in order to combat disposable products, Ireland has made it clear that vaping will be taxed from 2025, especially disposable products. Irish Finance Minister Michael McGrath confirmed the news. The UK is also set to launch a new public consultation seeking advice on how vaping can be used by smokers to quit smoking but make it less attractive to under-18s, with options under consideration including whether to ban disposable vape sales altogether and limit their sale.
From this point of view, the disposable EU system seems to be less acceptable in future global trends. This may be an “uncertainty factor” in the change.
Belgium, a Western European country with a population of more than 10 million, is adjacent to Germany and has a very mature electronic atomization market in Western Europe.
This country still attaches great importance to vaping, and as early as 2022, it officially recognized the potential of vaping in smoking cessation. In fact, as early as the beginning of the year, Belgium submitted a draft ban on disposable products, banning disposable products from entering the Belgian market, but pod electronic atomizers and disposable cigarette pod systems are still allowed. At the same time, there are restrictions on e-cigarettes. For example, the new local law will also include nicotine-free vapor products within the scope of control, and TPD registration must be completed. The new decree also covers product restrictions, labeling and packaging.
Now it seems that Belgium is also strengthening its disposable, which may be a continuing signal. Including the well-known brand Hexa in Belgium is also promoting a refilling pod system to stabilize their market share of disposable and pod system kits (data also shows that this brand accounts for 50% of the disposable market in Belgium, and it has been cooperating with Smoore; at the same time, it is said that its Already the No. 1 brand of pod system in Belgium, with a share of more than 70% in the pod refill), it focuses on introducing compliant products into the local market and gaining rapid market promotion.
This year I met some Polish distributors at the German site who said that disposable e-cigarettes are also declining in Poland, but now some channels are beginning to focus on cartridge refills, especially open refills, which are newly welcomed by Polish distributors. Including the general distributors of head brands such as Vozol,MKGVAPE and Elfbar,in Poland and Romania, they said they are “now preparing to lay out reloading products.”
China’s e-cigarette supply chain cooperation companies have launched a round of market competition. From Indonesia in August, Germany in September, to Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Indonesia, Russia in October and November…
Currently promoting Poland, the UK and the Middle East. Next we will promote Indonesia, Russia and Spain!
Poland can be said to be an important gathering place for the commercial circulation of e-cigarettes in Eastern Europe. Warsaw’s economy and trade have brought together a large number of e-cigarette businesses, and at the same time, it has been used as a fulcrum to transform to neighboring countries such as Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Austria. It carries an important market position in Eastern Europe east of Germany. At the same time, Warsaw is the largest city in Poland. It is located on the west bank of the middle reaches of the Vistula River. It is the largest domestic industry, trade, scientific and cultural center and the largest transportation hub. Because of its bustling business, it has also attracted a large number of e-cigarette channels. Take root and develop. Krakow is not only the essence of Polish tourism, but also a large e-cigarette distribution center, home to many “big players” in e-cigarette channels. Including international e-cigarette giant Philip Morris International’s new investment plan of more than 1 billion zloty also points to Krakow, Poland. Secondly, the impact of e-cigarettes in Poland is not only on Poland itself, but also on the surrounding two important e-cigarette markets, Ukraine and Russia. Third, Poland is still the center of Eastern Europe. There are many developed countries in Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, Belarus, Estonia and other regions. Poland is the most prosperous and powerful country in eastern Europe. Its commercial status and e-cigarette channel development have a great impact on the arrival of China’s e-cigarette supply chain in Eastern Europe. Markets matter.
The UK has an unparalleled e-cigarette market value. In a mature e-cigarette market like Western Europe, its goal is not to grab the top spots, but to open up the market in mature markets. The core also has to explore new channels outside of the top spots. Deepen your own brand business.
Russia, the fourth largest e-cigarette market in the world, despite many policy constraints this year, the consumer demand in its own market and the local space for rapid growth have brought expectations.
Spain, the representative of the Southern European market, radiates not only to its native Spain but also to Portugal and even some African import countries.
Indonesia, where factories in Southeast Asia are clustered, has a much higher acceptance of e-cigarettes and a looser policy on e-cigarettes than other regions. At the same time, the market structure here is still mainly open pod, oil-refillable and pod-replaceable, and disposable products are gradually attracting attention in the Indonesian market. At the same time, there will be a big exhibition in Indonesia in November. According to an interview with an Indonesian channel dealer in August this year, this may be the most lively one held locally.
