E-cigarettes legal but cannot contain additives, says health minister

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, sold in Belgium cannot contain vitamins or stimulating substances such as caffeine. The coloured smoke also offered by some brands is also prohibited, according to a new federal decree from public health minister Maggie De Block.

The electronic cigarette is relatively new in Belgium, and there was no legal framework yet to regulate its use. The royal decree now sets out regulations for its sale. De Block based her decisions on the advice of the Superior Health Council, which indicated that e-cigarettes shouldn’t be treated stricter than regular cigarettes, as they don’t contain carcinogenic tar and thus are significantly less harmful. The e-cigarettes can, the council argues, play a role in campaigns to encourage people to quit smoking.

To make them accessible, e-cigarettes will be sold at regular shops and newsagents – and not only at pharmacies. For the same reason, there are also no excise duties imposed on e-cigarettes.

Just as regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes cannot be used in public spaces such as bars and restaurants. They are illegal to sell to youngster under the age of 16. If they contain nicotine, a warning must appear on the package.