Czech Republic to ban flavored heated tobacco; BAT and PMI respond with non-tobacco products

The Czech Republic will ban the sale of flavored heated tobacco products, which are attracting young non-smokers. The ban will not take effect simultaneously in all neighboring countries, allowing consumers to choose to purchase flavored heated tobacco abroad.

According to Czech news site Expats on October 22, the Czech Republic will ban the sale of all flavored heated tobacco products in accordance with the European Tobacco Directive.

 It is reported that EU member states must incorporate this ban into their legal framework starting October 23, and this directive does not provide a transition period for existing stock products. Currently, various flavored traditional cigarettes have been banned, and this ban will also apply to heated tobacco products. Tobacco companies believe that flavored tobacco is very popular among users, and experiences from the U.S. after the ban indicate that some people will revert to traditional cigarettes.

In response, some manufacturers are launching non-tobacco products, including products made by Louis Pochtea. They also pointed out that the ban will not be implemented simultaneously in all European countries, allowing consumers to purchase flavored heated tobacco from abroad. 

The main reason for banning the sale of these products is their increasing popularity, with some people not viewing them as harmful items. Heated tobacco is attracting young non-smokers. According to lung disease doctors, the toxic components of the aerosol produced by heated tobacco are very similar to those in the smoke of traditional tobacco, including confirmed carcinogens.

A spokesperson for Japan Tobacco International (JTI), Jiří Sochor, told Czech news agency that over half of users prefer flavored tobacco. The experience from the U.S. ban indicates that some people will revert to traditional cigarettes. JTI sells cigarettes, heated tobacco, and e-cigarettes in the Czech Republic.

Sochor noted that the ban will not take effect simultaneously in all neighboring countries. Only Germany has already implemented it, like the Czech Republic. Therefore, since Poland will implement the ban later, people may choose to purchase flavored heated tobacco abroad.

He also mentioned that the sale of flavored heated tobacco generates approximately 2.9 billion Czech crowns in consumption tax for the Czech Republic each year. It is estimated that the total sales of flavored and unflavored tobacco amount to about 5.4 billion Czech crowns.

Imperial Brands' market manager Adam Palovič stated that about one-fifth of adult tobacco users exclusively or mixed-use heated tobacco devices.

In response to the ban, major companies are launching new products. Imperial Brands is launching a new e-cigarette in the Czech market.

Similarly, British American Tobacco (BAT) is also launching a non-tobacco heated product. "This product is made from Louis Pochtea and provides adults with a range of intense flavors, which is often a common reason for them to choose alternatives," said Stepan Michlí?ek, director of BAT's Czech and Slovak operations.

The company also stated that some tobacco companies oppose the European Commission's mandatory restrictions, and the existing ban will be reviewed by the European Court to address complaints from companies in Ireland.

PMI has also launched new tobacco-free flavors, such as blueberry flavor. In September, the company announced that approximately 680,000 users in the Czech Republic and Slovakia used its heated tobacco devices in the first half of this year.