Federal Environment Minister announces ban on disposable vapes

Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider is preparing a ban on disposable e-cigarettes. He will present a corresponding law this year, the SPD politician said after a meeting with the environment ministers of the federal states in Leipzig. The disposable devices would then no longer be allowed to be sold in Germany.

Schneider justified the proposed ban with the risk of fires caused by disposable e-cigarettes. Users often simply dispose of them in household waste or the yellow bag - and then cause fires in waste disposal facilities. They are a danger to the life and limb of employees and also a threat to Germany as a recycling location. How often the devices are actually responsible for fires is currently still being "quantified".

In the past, the Federal Council had already spoken out in favor of a ban on disposable e-cigarettes. The German government had declared its willingness to initiate a ban - Schneider has now made it clear that it will come soon. Refillable devices should not be affected by the ban.

Sales increased significantly in 2025

E-cigarettes produce vapor that is inhaled and tastes of fruit or menthol. The vapor contains significantly fewer harmful substances than the smoke from tobacco cigarettes, but doctors still warn of the health risks and the addictive effects of nicotine.

In 2025, legal sales in Germany are estimated to have risen by a quarter to 2.4 billion euros, according to industry figures. From July, consumers in Germany will be able to return e-cigarettes wherever they are sold.