Overview
- Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said Friday he will table a bill this year to stop sales of single‑use vapes nationwide.
- The pledge followed a joint push from North Rhine‑Westphalia and Brandenburg at the environment ministers’ conference in Leipzig.
- The proposed ban targets only single‑use models, with refillable e‑cigarettes exempt.
- A take‑back rule starts in July that lets shoppers return used devices anywhere they are sold.
- The fire‑risk study now underway will guide the rule’s design and timing in a legal market worth about €2.4 billion in 2025.