The European Union proposed on Wednesday a ban on the sale of flavored heated tobacco products that are used widely in e-cigarettes, or vapes, part of a broader campaign to phase out tobacco use and reduce cancer rates in the bloc.
The proposal, spurred by a surge in the sale of e-cigarettes, seeks to keep pace with new products entering the market and to protect younger people, said Stella Kyriakides, health commissioner for the bloc’s executive arm, in a statement.
“With nine out of 10 lung cancers caused by tobacco, we want to make smoking as unattractive as possible to protect the health of our citizens and save lives,” said Ms. Kyriakides, adding that her agency’s mission was to reduce tobacco use to 5 percent in member states by 2040.
