European Lawmakers Consider Restrictions on Tea Leaf Tobacco Sticks
According to Reuters, European lawmakers are considering restrictions on tea leaf tobacco sticks (heated tobacco sticks made from tea leaves), which are becoming increasingly popular across Europe. After the EU banned flavored heated tobacco sticks last y
According to Reuters, European lawmakers are considering restrictions on tea-based tobacco sticks (heated tobacco sticks made from tea leaves), which are becoming increasingly popular across Europe.
After the EU banned flavored heated tobacco sticks last year, tobacco companies began developing tobacco-free alternatives made from nicotine-infused materials such as tea leaves.
The European Commission said it is currently evaluating EU tobacco legislation, and any revisions will depend on the outcome of that work, public consultations, and impact assessments.
Some member states are already seeking to tighten their national legislation.
For example, in Latvia, a draft bill would classify tea-based tobacco sticks as tobacco substitutes and subject them to relevant controls. According to the country’s Ministry of Health, Croatia also plans to regulate tea-based tobacco sticks.
Lithuania is also discussing regulations for such products.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Germany’s Federal Central Tax Office said the authorities are in discussions with manufacturers over whether existing tobacco tax laws cover these new products.
British American Tobacco said it supports evidence-based regulation and appropriate excise taxation for its tea-based tobacco sticks, adding that 15 EU member states have already imposed excise taxes.
A spokesperson for Philip Morris International also said that any nicotine-containing cigarette alternative should be properly regulated and taxed.
