As Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease across the country, many of us are looking forward to planning our Summer holidays.
One thing that people often don't consider when planning their holidays are the vaping laws and regulations in popular holiday destinations. As many of us are using vaping as an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, being forced to revert back isn't an ideal situation to find ourselves in! Here are some regulations and tips to ensure you remain compliant.
Flying with vaping devices
Due to concerns over fires in the cargo holds, vaping devices and batteries must be packed in carry on luggage or kept in your pocket. This applies worldwide.
If you pack devices and batteries in your luggage, and your luggage is x-rayed, you may have them confiscated.
For your hand luggage, your e-liquids must be in bottles of 100ml or less and placed inside a transparent resealable plastic bag measuring around 20cm x 20cm and holding no more than 1 litre. Anything larger must be packed in hold luggage.
Top 5 holiday destinations and their vaping laws & regulations:
Spain
As part of The Royal Decree 579/2017, the sale of tanks over 2ml and e-liquids above 10ml are banned across the country.
Due to Covid-19, the Spanish government has also placed a ban on smoking and vaping where social distancing of 2 meters isn't possible. This ban includes vaping in the street and in outdoor terraces and bars. Failing to comply with these restrictions carries a fine of €100.
Vaping is also banned in state-owned facilities such as schools and hospitals, and on public transport. In private restaurants and places of work, vaping is allowed at the owner's discretion, so it's best to check with them in advance.
France
Vaping products are regulated in France. The regulations include:
- The nicotine in e-liquids must be 20 mg/ml or less.
- Pre-filled tanks, pods, and cartridges must contain 2 ml of liquid or less.
- E-liquid bottles must contain 10 ml or less.
Vaping is permitted in bars and restaurants (although we recommend asking first). Vaping is banned on public transport, in educational facilities, and in closed-plan offices. Where vaping is allowed, legislated requires the owner to display a sign explaining the facilities vaping policy. Failure to comply with regulations carries a fine of between €35 and €150.
Italy
It is legal to vape indoors with a few restrictions. The restrictions on nicotine levels, pre-filled cartridges, and e-liquids bottle contents are the same as in France.
Italy's government has imposed a tax on e-liquids of €0.08 per ml and €0.04 per ml for liquids that don't contain nicotine.
USA
Indoor vaping is banned in several states across the US including California, Hawaii, and New York. Many states have locality-based vaping bans in bars and restaurants. 13 states, 2 territories, and 841 municipalities have prohibited vaping in smoke-free public areas.
The US has banned the sale of menthol and fruit flavoured cartridge devices such a JUUL.
Netherlands
Vaping devices are legal to use indoors and there is no vape tax. Again, the restrictions on nicotine levels, pre-filled cartridges, and e-liquid bottle contents are the same as in France.
The law is due to be refined this year to ban the sale of flavoured vaping products, restricting sales to just tobacco flavours.
The above provides a basic overview of the laws and regulations in place in the countries mentioned. If you are planning to visit any of these destinations, we recommend to do additional research to ensure you are fully compliant and have plenty of supplies to keep you covered for your entire trip!