Half of e-cigarettes in Europe are illegal and almost all come from China
March 16, 2026 by brusselssignal.eu
Half of e-cigarettes in Europe are illegal and almost all come from China
Almost half of Europe's e-cigarette market is supplied by China through irregular sources. The illicit market is projected to reach €10.8 billion by 2030, highlighting gaps in EU customs and consumer protection. A study finds China's strong control over products domestically contrasts with lack of control on exports to Europe. Legal shipments from China overwhelm customs, enabling untaxed and unregulated products. The shadow market poses health risks and tax evasion, with €119 million evaded in Germany alone. The study calls for uniform EU product definitions, digital traceability, and cooperation with China to stabilize the market, warning against blanket bans. Tightening regulations without addressing supply chain issues may worsen the situation.
