Following the transposition of the European directive on tobacco, Italy voted the day before yesterday an amendment which limits advertising concerning e-cigarettes and nicotine on the internet.
FROM 30 000 TO 180 000 EUROS FOR OFFENDERS TO THE LAW!
On the night of May 25 to 26, 2017, Italy adopted an amendment to article 5 bis of the spring fiscal maneuver, thus giving the possibility to the Customs and Monopoly Agency (Agency delle dogane e dei monopoli ) prohibit or limit access to internet sites promoting the sale of e-cigarettes or tobacco.
This measure was designed in accordance with the decree of January 2016 transposing the European directive and prohibiting cross-border sales of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine (cigalike or cartridges), nicotine e-liquids and tobacco through the web. In collaboration with the police, the Customs and Monopoly Agency can therefore limit access to websites that promote nicotine e-cigarettes and nicotine e-liquids. Regarding the applicable sanctions, those who break the law risk 30 000 to 180 000 euros in case of violation.
It is important to specify that magazines or newspapers specializing in vaping are exempted by this advertising ban, for example the paper version of our Italian colleagues from Sigmagazine.
