Smoking and vaping rules in Hungary

Hungary has one of the highest smoking prevalence in the European Union. To curb this, the country has adopted heavy regulation for tobacco with vending machines being banned. It has adopted a law that makes displaying tobacco products in a way that enables other people to see them from outside illegal. In 2016, the country passed a bill that required manufacturers to plain-pack tobacco products. This law will be implemented entirely in May 2019.

Nevertheless, it is legal to sell nicotine-containing cartridges as long as their packaging is in maximum volumes of 10ml bottles. What’s more, the cartridges should be sold at Nemzeti Dohanybolt or the National Tobacco Shops. Selling tobacco products in Hungary requires vendors to have a separate license. This gives further state control over the tobacco products market. The state has a monopoly since only people with government permission can merchandise tobacco.

Vaping rules in Hungary also require packaging of nicotine-containing vape pens or cartridges to have a text whose 30% indicates that the products have strong addiction-inducing nicotine. These restrictions cover the sale of refillable tanker liquids and e-cigarettes as well as other tobacco-containing products. The legal age at which a person can purchase nicotine-containing products in Hungary is 18 years.

  Implementation of the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive

Until 2016, Hungary prohibited nicotine-containing e-cigarette liquids. However, this has been legalized, and it’s considered a consumer product. Nevertheless, the country introduced a 65 Hungarian Forints tax per ml in 1st January 2017.

Advertising e-cigarette is banned in Hungary. The country prohibits vaping in places where smoking is also prohibited. All e-cigarette flavors are also prohibited except the tobacco flavor. The cross-border sale is also prohibited.

However, Hungary eventually adopted the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive. This directive requires e-liquid to have no flavorings, no nicotine, and no additives like taurine, caffeine, and other additives as well as stimulant compounds that give consumers the feeling of enhanced vitality and energy.

This decree requires manufacturers to also inform the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition of their products. It also requires them to ensure protection against leakage and breakage as well as a mechanism that allows for leakage-free refilling.

  Act on Non-Smokers Protection

Hungary exploits an option that the EU TPD leaves open for the State Members. This option allows them to prohibit some tobacco categories or related products for purposes of protecting public health.

According to the European Union, Hungary situation is specific, and it is considered justified when it comes to regulating electronic cigarettes as well as devices that imitate electronic smoking no matter what their nicotine content is.

By adopting this decree, Hungary has taken a position that is opposed to the position taken by France and England. In France for instance, the High Council of Public Health acknowledges the importance of vape pen (learn more) when it comes to smoking cessation and risk reduction.

In Hungary, smoking is already well-settled. But, the e-cigarettes market is still undeveloped. Therefore, the authorities fear is that vaping might end up promoting the smoking culture and abandoning smokers’ hope to access a risk reduction solution.

  Sale of Vaping Products in Hungary

In 2012, Hungary extended the cigarette smoking ban to include pubs, workplaces, clubs, bus stops, and restaurants. The World Health Organization praised Hungary for the efforts it put in protecting public health. However, the ban encouraged most Hungarian smokers to look for potentially healthier smoking alternatives. This made electronic cigarettes popular among smokers.