site.btaPoliticians, Social Policy Minister Support Full Ban on Vapes

Politicians from various political group and the Social Policy Minister Friday vowed support for a total ban on vapes and a ban on sale of energy drinks to under-18s.

The idea to ban electronic cigarettes was put back on the agenda after the death of a 14-year-old boy who fell from a balcony in the northern city of Pleven after smoking a vape that was found to contain hexahydrocannabinol.  

At a news briefing in Parliament, Kostadin Angelov, Deputy Floor Leader of GERB-UDF said that his group were submitting bills for a complete ban on the marketing, including the import, trade, sale, supply and distribution in retail outlets or online of electronic cigarettes (vapes) for single or multiple use, whether or not they contain nicotine.

In addition, the GERB-UDF will submit a bill for a complete ban on the sale, supply and distribution in retail outlets or online of energy drinks and substances to children under 18.

"I do not think we need to have more children dying [of vaping]. The bills will be introduced by the end of the work day", Angelov said.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament on Friday, Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov said that electronic cigarettes must be banned in Bulgaria. "What else needs to happen for us to realize that this is dangerous and cannot go on like this. Not only vapes but also narcotics. They are a scourge, and the sooner Parliament bans them the better," he said.

Gutsanov also agreed with the need for stricter regulations of energy drinks.

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that he expects the ban on vapes to be supported across the board in Parliament, regardless of who submits the bill. He said that the idea for a ban has been discussed by the culture committee and there all members supported it – rather than just the initial idea for banning the advertising of electronic cigarettes.

MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski said that the ban should be only for vapes imported from certain countries and that control on what reaches the market should be tightened.

MP Alexander Simidchiev of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) said his group would back any measure that would limit the use of vapes and energy drinks. He told reporters in Parliament Friday that due to the lack of regulation, the use of electronic cigarettes and energy drinks in Bulgaria is very high and "disrupts the fabric of society".