Germany's Federal Minister for the Environment has announced that legislation to ban single-use e-cigarettes is currently being drafted and will be submitted this year; however, refillable devices will not be affected by this ban. According to industry data, the value of legal e-cigarette sales in Germany is estimated to increase by approximately one-quarter in 2025, reaching €2.4 billion.

According to n-tv, Germany's Federal Minister for the Environment, Carsten Schneider, is preparing legislation to ban single-use e-cigarettes.

Following a meeting with the environment ministers of Germany's federal states in Leipzig, he stated that he would introduce the relevant legislation this year.

Germany Plans to Ban the Sale of Disposable E-cigarettes

Schneider stated that disposable e-cigarette products will no longer be permitted for sale in Germany in the future.

Previously, the German Federal Council had backed a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, and the federal government had also expressed its willingness to push the ban forward.

Schneider has now explicitly confirmed that the ban will be implemented very soon.

Reports indicate that refillable devices will not be affected by this ban.

Environment Minister Cites Fire Risk as Justification for Ban

Schneider attributed the proposed ban to the fire risks posed by single-use e-cigarettes.

He stated that users frequently discard these so-called "vapes" directly into general household waste or yellow recycling bags, which can subsequently lead to fires at waste processing facilities.

Schneider asserted that these products endanger the lives and health of waste management workers, while also posing a risk to Germany's recycling system.

Currently, data regarding the actual frequency of fires caused by these devices is still being quantified.

Disposable e-cigarettes cannot be refilled with e-liquid or recharged.

Reports indicate that e-cigarettes produce an inhalable vapor, typically available in fruit or mint flavors.

The reports note that while they contain significantly fewer harmful substances than traditional cigarette smoke, the medical community continues to warn of their associated health risks and the addictive nature of nicotine.

Disposable e-cigarettes typically provide hundreds—or up to approximately 1,000—puffs and must be discarded once depleted. Their internal e-liquid reservoirs cannot be refilled, nor can their built-in batteries be recharged.

In 2025, legal e-cigarette sales in Germany are projected to reach approximately €2.4 billion.

According to industry data, the value of legal e-cigarette sales in Germany is estimated to increase by approximately one-quarter in 2025, reaching €2.4 billion.

Starting in July, consumers in Germany will be able to return e-cigarettes at any location where they are sold.