In New Zealand, attention towards the vaping industry is growing, particularly with regard to protecting young people. Starting June 17, 2025, new rules under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 come into force, introducing significant restrictions on the sale and promotion of vaping products. One of the most notable changes is the complete ban on disposable vaping devices. These products—long scrutinized by health authorities for their environmental impact and strong appeal to minors—will no longer be allowed to be sold or distributed in the country. In addition, all previous advertising exemptions granted to specialist vape retailers will be revoked. This means that neither physical stores nor online retailers will be allowed to display product images, send promotional communications to customers, or use social media to share information about product availability. Shop windows will need to be covered, and no visual information may be visible from outside. The goal is clear: to significantly reduce the appeal of vaping products among young people. These new rules build on measures introduced in December 2024, which already increased fines for selling to minors and imposed strict limitations on the proximity of vape retailers to schools and childcare centers. Non-compliance will lead to substantial penalties, ranging from NZD 2,000 for minor offenses to NZD 200,000 for serious violations of advertising regulations relating to vaping or non-combustible tobacco products. It’s important to note that some informational messages will still be permitted, provided they are presented in a neutral, non-promotional manner. For example, in-store communications may state that “completely switching from smoking to vaping reduces health harm.” However, even these messages must follow specific formats and may [...]

Extended Producer Responsibility (REP) is an environmental principle recognised by the European Waste Framework Directive, (EU Directive 2018/851) which gives producers financial and/or organisational responsibility for the prevention and management of waste from their end-of-life products. In France, this principle translates into a system where producers must finance or organise the collection, treatment and recycling of the products they place on the market. The system is regulated at national level by the French AGEC (anti-waste) law of 2020. SOGGETTI COINVOLTI: manufacturers online retailers (either directly through their own site or through marketplaces) importers (if the manufacturer is non-European) distributors (in the case of private labels) in general, anyone who first places products on the French market OBLIGATIONS Join an eco-organism Producers must either join a collective system (eco-organism) or create their own individual system. Collective schemes are non-profit structures that collect eco-contributions and organise waste management, whereas individual schemes are autonomous solutions managed directly by the producer, which are less common. Joining an eco-organism entails paying an eco-contribution, which varies according to the type of product and the costs of waste treatment. If a product belongs to two chains, e.g. packaging and WEEE, it is necessary to join both collection chains. CITEO is the main eco-organism in France for packaging and applies a flat fee of 80.00€ for less than 10,000 quantities of units/components put on the market (CSU). The CSU corresponds to each disjointed piece that completes the packaging beyond the basic material: cap, lid, label, wrapper, etc. Besides CITEO (https://www.citeo.com/), there are other accredited eco-organisations, some of which specialise in specific product categories or waste streams. It is therefore possible to [...]

The French Parliament has recently voted unanimously to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. The decision, passed with 104 votes in favor and none against, highlights France's commitment to reducing environmental harm and protecting public health. Disposable devices have gained popularity among young people thanks to their sweet flavors and low price, but they have also sparked public debate due to their high usage rates among minors and their environmental impact. As single-use products, they generate significant amounts of electronic and plastic waste, which are difficult to recycle properly. The new law prohibits the production and sale of disposable e-cigarettes throughout France. Final approval from the Senate and official publication are still pending, but the ban could come into effect by the end of 2025. France thus joins Belgium, the first country to ban these devices, with the aim of limiting access to them and reducing their environmental impact.