(MENAFN) Belgium is preparing to prohibit all vape flavors except tobacco as part of a broader effort to curb youth nicotine addiction, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said Wednesday, following new recommendations from the Superior Health Council.

Vandenbroucke said flavored e-cigarettes are intentionally crafted to attract children and disguise the potential risks of vaping, the Belga news agency reported.

The Superior Health Council recently updated its guidance on vaping regulations. While it had previously taken a more cautious stance on an outright flavor ban, the council now supports tougher restrictions, arguing that shielding young people from nicotine addiction outweighs any potential benefits flavors might offer to adult smokers trying to quit.

Recent national surveys indicate a significant increase in vaping among Belgian school pupils, with nearly one-third having experimented with e-cigarettes. Weekly use among youth is now four times higher than it was five years ago.

The government has not yet set a date for when the ban will take effect. Vandenbroucke said he intends to implement the measure “as soon as possible.”

The planned ban builds on earlier initiatives aimed at reducing youth smoking, including prohibitions on disposable vapes and restrictions on smoking in areas commonly used by young people.

MENAFN19112025000045017281ID1110366382