FPS Public Health is hunting for illegal sales of e-cigarettes via the internet: forbidden but especially dangerous

At the beginning of this year, inspection services seized more than 15,000 illegal electronic cigarettes in Brussels. The disposable vapes contain nicotine concentrations that were sometimes two to three times higher than legally permitted. And that health workers are very worried.

Those illegal vapes usually come from China, do not meet European quality standards and can even be dangerous due to the high nicotine levels. Or even worse. Pano, the explanation program of the public broadcaster on VRT1, had Vapes examined and noticed that there were cannabis or even heavy metals in addition to too high nicotine concentrations.

That is why the FPS Public Health strictly acts against sales via social media or other sales platforms. That is also apparent from the figures.

« In 2024 we dealt with 6,286 files on illegal online sales of e-cigarettes. The year before there were 824. Thanks to extra resources and extra inspectors, we can now check much more targeted and perform faster. »

The inspection service screens social media channels such as Facebook, Instragram, Tiktok and Snapchat looking for suspicious advertisements or messages.

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« In 2023 our inspectors expose 70 private sellers who offered their VAPES directly through advertisements and posts on social media. A total of 5,500 false Vapes were seized. In 2024, 98 selling profiles were checked and 3,800 Vapes were seized, » says the FPOD Health.

But they also go on second-hand.be, Temu, Alibaba and AliExpress, among others, looking for the sale of e-cigarettes to Belgian customers. In 2024 we had more than 6,000 illegal product links removed on Amazon. Because the sale of tobacco products via the internet is prohibited in Belgium. The same also applies to e-cigarettes. « 

Read too. ‘Spice-Vapen’ on the rise: « Young people think it’s cannabis, but it can be hundreds of times stronger »

They are usually cheaper than when you buy them legally. But they often contain more nicotine than allowed and the age of buyers is not checked either.

« Vapes are wolves in sheepskin. They can cause irreparable damage, » warned professor Doctor Eva van Braeckel, head of lung disease in UZ Gent, in Pano this week.

Heavy fines

Those who are caught on illegal online advertising from Vapes will first receive a warning. In the event of repetition, fines follow that can rise from 2,000 euros to 800,000 euros, says the FPS Public Health. With online sales of e-cigarettes, an official report is immediately drawn up with a proposal for an administrative fine. Those fines start at 1,500 euros.