Will Italy Ease Online Restrictions on E-Cigarettes?

Today, the new vaping force learned that, according to Italian media Notizie, Italy will ease online restrictions on e-cigarettes, provided that pickup points can only be tobacco shops or pharmacies.

Previously, the tax proposal put forward by the Italian Finance Committee explicitly stated a ban on sales outside Italy, but the restrictions on online vaping were not as strict as expected, with an amendment allowing Italian consumers to place orders from other EU countries. More lenient than other countries, in addition to tobacco shops and e-cigarette shops, orders from other EU countries (produced in that country or legally imported by EU companies) can also be picked up at authorized pharmacies and health stores.

(Easing in Italy?)

However, some rules must be followed, such as products must be delivered, and the pickup point must be specified during the purchase; personal pickup is required to verify the purchaser's age.

In this regard, the judgment of the "new vaping force" is that the easing of online sales outside Italy does not mean a complete ban on online sales, but rather a different pickup method to complete the process.

Moreover, purchasers must specify the pickup point when ordering, and the order can only be picked up by the purchaser themselves. This system is similar to picking up goods from an Amazon counter, except that the purchaser's identity will be verified at the time of delivery to ensure they meet the legal age. However, it may take a few more months to take effect, pending instructions from Italian customs and other departments.

It seems that the restrictions on online sales of e-cigarettes in Italy are not as strict as imagined.

Italy, with a population of over 59 million and more than 2 million e-cigarette users, has over 20,000 registered online products, occupying an important market in Europe, second only to the UK and Germany. Its vast market space has also attracted the attention of many Chinese manufacturers. The local consumption market is good, with a highly developed economy and a growing user base, but it must also operate within a compliant system.