Disposable e-cigarettes could soon be banned in Germany. A spokesperson for the Federal Environment Ministry said on Monday in Berlin that work is underway on such a proposal, although the plans are still at an early stage. It has not yet been decided whether responsibility will lie with the Environment Ministry or the Health Ministry.
Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) has “a strong preference” for a ban, the spokesperson said. She also pointed to a government statement issued in November, in which the cabinet said it was “in principle” prepared to “set a ban on electronic disposable cigarettes in motion.” That process has now “actually begun,” she added. The Health Ministry, led by CDU Minister Nina Warken, initially declined to comment.
The statement was made in November when the government approved new rules on the recycling of e-cigarettes in the Bundesrat. Under the new regulations, retailers will be required to take back electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating devices from 1 July next year. The devices contain lithium-ion batteries, which pose a fire risk if disposed of in household waste.
Environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe has criticised the new requirement as insufficient. “Without an incentive, such as a deposit, disposable e-cigarettes will continue to be disposed of incorrectly in most cases,” the organisation said. It called for the swift implementation of the announced ban.
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