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The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) has strongly condemned the Bulgarian Parliament’s “reckless” decision to ban all vaping products. The organisation calls it a “misguided policy”, sparked by a tragic incident involving a black-market THC vape, and that it will only exacerbate the real problem: the unregulated black market for dangerous products.
According to current data, Bulgaria has the highest smoking rate in the European Union – at 37%, 50% higher than the EU average.
The World Vapers’ Alliance says that despite this alarming statistic, Bulgarian politicians have chosen to get rid of a proven harm-reduction tool that has been shown to help smokers quit. Instead of addressing the root cause – illegal and unregulated products – the government has opted for a policy that will push adult vapers back to smoking or into the hands of black market dealers, it adds.
Michael Landl, the Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, stated: “This ban is not just irrational; it’s dangerous. Banning regulated vaping products will not solve the issue of illegal vapes—it will make it worse. The tragic death of a teenager in Pleven was caused by a black-market THC vape, not by legal nicotine products. By banning legal alternatives, Bulgaria is opening the floodgates for more unsafe products to flood the market.”
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