Saturday, August 27, 2016

E-liquid flavours got banned in Hungary

The updated government decree regulating the sales of vapor products in Hungary, effective from 20/08/2016, bans all flavouring additives in e-liquids.

Back before the original decree came into effect there were three different versions of it circulating around, and one of them already contained the text of the flavouring ban, but it has been removed from the final version. Now it is back, and it is official, and it's live, with no consultation whatsoever, or at least I haven't seen one.

Not even directive 2014/40/EU (the TPD) allows such changes without proper reasoning and risk assessment, so I immediately submitted a Freedom of Information request to obtain the documents required by directive 98/34/EC to accompany a decision like this.

What I expect to receive is the same old heap of bullcrap compiled by the lunatic local tobacco control bureaucrats, which gets pulled out of the hat whenever they trample on basic human rights in their misguided attempts on protecting tobacco and pharma public health interests.

The decree is going to be attacked with a constitutional complaint of course, but it will take several months to get to the end of the process to annul this madness.

The fact that e-liquids without flavours are no longer e-liquids and are not suitable for immediate consumption by vapers apparently does not bother the regulators, probably thanks to their funny idea of non-flavoured e-liquids tasting like tobacco. No surprise there though, they are known to be hell-bent on making smoking more attractive than the life saving harm reduction alternative.

9 comments:

  1. To make vaping less attractive to smokers, so they keep smoking.

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  2. Any updates? Are all (still) flavours banned ?

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    1. The complete ban got delayed until 20/05/2020, until then there is a partial ban that restricts the available flavors to the following: tobacco, menthol, fruits.

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  3. So basically all flavours e-liquids are banned in Hungary ?
    I would like to know because I'll be there in September during three months and I usually use menthols e-liquids.

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    1. The ban is now partial, and it applies to sales only. The allowed flavors are tobacco, menthol and fruits. If you bring your own e-liquids, they can be of any flavors. The maximum amount you can own as a consumer is 300 mls. I'd recommend bringing all 300 mls, depending on your consumption it might be enough for the whole duration, but at least it allows you to discover the local supply options without an imminent time constraint. Due to the quirks of the notification regime the current availability of quality e-liquids is random and scarce, hopping to Vienna or Slovakia on a weekend to refill your stock might also be an option.
      DIY is also possible, PG/VG and the flavors are not regulated. Getting nicotine can be tricky though.

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    2. Thank you for your answer and sorry for answering just yet.
      And what about the liquids with nicotine ? Can I find them easily in Hungary ? Because I only smoke with nicotine.
      By the way, I'll be in Pecs, so maybe, if I don't find liquids with nicotine, I could go in Croatia for a day in order to refill my stock.

      Finally, I can't understand this legislation. E-cig are far far less dangerous and unhealthy than real cigarette, that's just nonsense.
      Anyways, thank to your help.

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. As far as vaping is concerned, people have mixed opinions. You may have heard of the benefits of e-cigrattes for your health. VapezIT

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  6. i will be there in February,can bring my own e-liquid from my country ?

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