The Parliament adopted a complete ban on the offer, sale, distribution and advertising of single-use and reusable electronic cigarettes, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not.
The decision was taken unanimously, with 197 votes "for", and covers all vapes and devices resembling them.
The aim of the amendments is to protect the health and life of Bulgarian citizens by limiting the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, known as vapes, which contain unclear substances, as well as energy drinks, which are often consumed by children.
The draft law was submitted by MP Kostadin Angelov and the parliamentary group of GERB.
According to Kostadin Angelov, despite the ban introduced in the Child Protection Act on the supply, sale and use of a wide range of tobacco and related products to persons under 18 years of age, including vapes, the measure is proving to be insufficiently effective. Many children and adolescents in practice gain illegal access to electronic cigarettes, both in physical sales outlets and on the Internet, in violation of legal provisions, the reasons for the petitioner state.
The ban is also supported by the Minister of Social Affairs Borislav Gutsanov.
Vapes should be banned in our country, how many more things need to happen for us to understand that this is dangerous and cannot continue. Not only vapes, but also narcotic substances – This is a huge scourge and the sooner parliament passes a ban, the better, Gutsanov commented last week.
The decision will come into effect after its final vote in the plenary hall and on second reading.