BELGIUM MOVES TO SCRAP CANDY AND FRUIT VAPE FLAVORS TO SHIELD TEENS

Vandenbroucke said flavored e-cigarettes are deliberately designed to appeal to children and mask the potential harms of vaping, the Belga news agency reported.

The Superior Health Council recently updated its position on vaping regulations.

Although the body had previously been cautious about a complete ban on flavors, it now supports stricter limitations, arguing that protecting young people outweighs the potential benefits of allowing some flavors to help smokers quit.

Recent national surveys show a sharp rise in vaping among school pupils in Belgium, with almost one-third having tried e-cigarettes. Weekly use among young people is now four times higher than it was five years ago.

The government has not yet announced when the ban will come into force. Vandenbroucke said he aims to implement it “as soon as possible.”

The planned restriction follows earlier policies targeting youth smoking, including the ban on disposable vapes and limitations on smoking in areas frequented by young people.

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• • “Popcorn Lung” (Bronchiolitis Obliterans): Flavoring chemicals like diacetyl, used to create buttery or other sweet flavors, are linked to this rare and serious lung disease, which causes permanent scarring in the small airways and makes breathing difficult.
  • Inflammation and Cell Damage: Various flavors, including cinnamon, strawberry, and menthol, can cause the release of inflammatory markers and decrease cell viability in lung and oral tissue, potentially leading to respiratory and oral diseases.
  • Production of Toxins When Heated: When e-liquids are heated, their flavor chemicals can break down into other harmful substances, including known carcinogens like formaldehyde and acrolein, which can damage the lungs and heart over time.
  • EVALI (E-cigarette, or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury): Flavoring agents, among other components like Vitamin E acetate (primarily in illicit THC vapes), have been linked to EVALI, a severe and potentially fatal lung condition that causes widespread lung damage.

• Cardiovascular Issues: Nicotine and other substances, including certain flavor chemicals, can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and irritate blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

• Organ and DNA Damage: Flavorings can induce oxidative stress and damage DNA, which is a potential precursor to cancer.