Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2024) 1321
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2024/0270/SI
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20241321.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2024 0270 SI EN 20-05-2024 SI NOTIF
2. Slovenia
3A. Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo, Kontaktne točka, Ulica gledališča BTC 2, SI – 1000 Ljubljana, tel: +386 1 478 3065, e-mail: contact@sist.si
3B. Ministrstvo za zdravje, Direktorat za javno zdravje, Štefanova ulica 5, 1000 Ljubljana
4. 2024/0270/SI - X60M - Tobacco
5. Rules on reporting of tobacco and related products and flavourings in electronic cigarettes and refill containers
6. Electronic cigarettes and refill containers, herbal products for smoking, novel tobacco products
7.
8. The proposed Rules on reporting of tobacco and related products and flavourings in electronic cigarettes and refill containers set the same fees for novel tobacco products, herbal products for smoking and herbal products for heating as apply to traditional tobacco products based on the Rules on reporting of tobacco and related products (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 9/18).
In addition, the proposed Rules, following the example of the Netherlands, specify 16 substances which are permitted, as flavourings, in the liquid or any other component of electronic cigarettes, nicotine-free electronic cigarettes, refill containers or nicotine-free refill containers.
9. With the Act amending and supplementing the Restriction on the Use of Tobacco Products and Related Products Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 31/24, hereinafter: ZOUTPI-B) fees were also introduced for receiving, storing, handling, analysing and publishing data on novel tobacco products, herbal products for smoking and herbal products for heating, in the same amounts as apply for tobacco products since 2018, in order to address all tobacco and related products in a comprehensive way.
In addition, ZOUTPI-B stipulates that nicotine liquids and nicotine-free liquids in electronic cigarettes, nicotine-free electronic cigarettes, refill containers and nicotine-free refill containers must not contain any flavourings other than the taste or smell of tobacco. According to ZOUTPI-B more detailed conditions in this regard shall be laid down in the Rules.
The proposed Rules, following the example of the Netherlands, specify a set of 16 substances which shall be permitted, as flavourings, in electronic cigarettes, nicotine-free electronic cigarettes, refill containers or nicotine-free refill containers. This will result in a ban on the production and placing on the market of electronic cigarettes and refill containers with flavourings other than one of tobacco, which are not included in the permitted set of substances. Manufacturers and importers will be able to check exactly which substances are allowed before placing these products on the market. In addition, in case of doubt as to the conformity of a product, it can be determined, on the basis of a chemical analysis, whether there are unauthorised substances present in the liquids as flavourings.
By limiting flavourings in electronic cigarettes, we want to reduce their appeal and protect everyone, especially children and adolescents, from accessing electronic cigarettes, thus also protecting their health, which may be endangered by inhaling harmful substances in the aerosol of electronic cigarettes. Attractive flavourings reduce the perception of harmfulness and increase the willingness to try the product, they make the aerosol more pleasant to inhale, which makes it easier to start and continue using it. More and more research shows that among adolescents who otherwise do not smoke, the use of an electronic cigarette significantly increases the probability (up to four times) that they will also start smoking regular cigarettes. The use of electronic cigarettes is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and also cancer. In addition to mouth and throat irritation, cough, nausea, headache and nicotine addiction, short-term health effects include epileptic seizures and lung damage. In 2019, several thousand people in the USA, mainly young people, suffered from acute lung injuries related to the use of electronic cigarettes, with numerous deaths and severe respiratory health consequences.
By limiting attractive flavourings in electronic cigarettes, we will take an important step towards realising the long-term vision of the Strategy for a Tobacco-Free Slovenia to make Slovenia a tobacco-free society by 2040. This means that the proportion of the population aged 15 and over who will use tobacco, related products and other nicotine products not registered as nicotine replacement therapy will not exceed 5 %. We want to contribute to better people's health and the sustainability of the healthcare system in the future.
10. References to basic texts: The basic text does not exist
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects:
The draft is a technical regulation or a conformity assessment
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
