Legal vs. Illegal
What does Belgian legislation determine about vaping products? A visual overview of the rules, the risks and the facts.
Visual comparison
Tank or cartridge
A cartridge or tank may contain a maximum of 2 ml of liquid.
Nicotine content
The nicotine concentration may not exceed 20 mg/ml.
Rechargeable format
Not a disposable vape. The device is rechargeable or refillable.
Fiscal stamp
Since 1 January 2025, every product containing e-liquid must carry a fiscal stamp.
Nicotine content
Nicotine concentration clearly stated on the packaging.
Health warning
Mandatory text in three national languages (NL/FR/DE) on at least 30% of the two largest side panels.
Legal information
Packaging includes all mandatory information: ingredients, nicotine content, manufacturer, fiscal stamp and ECID.
Flavour name
"Mint": one word, in accordance with the legal naming rule.
Disposable format
Disposable vapes are banned in Belgium, even without nicotine.
Large tank capacity
Often 5 to 12 ml, well above the legal limit of 2 ml.
Attractive design
Bright colours and cartoons targeting minors. Explicitly prohibited.
Multiple words
"Iron Brew": a flavour name with multiple words is explicitly prohibited.
LED lights
Decorative LED lights in red and green at the bottom of the device. Non-functional light effects are prohibited.
High nicotine content
Often 50 mg/ml or more (salt nicotine), up to 10x the legal limit of 20 mg/ml.
No fiscal stamp
Does not contain a fiscal stamp. Since January 2025, every product on the Belgian market must carry a fiscal stamp.
Not notified
This product is not on the positive list of FPS Public Health and is therefore prohibited on the Belgian market.
No correct nicotine warning
The nicotine warning must be stated in three languages in Belgium (NL/FR/DE). On illegal products it is missing or incomplete.
All features at a glance
Overview of all points shown in the comparison.
Product
Tank or cartridge
A cartridge or tank may contain a maximum of 2 ml of liquid.
Nicotine content
The nicotine concentration may not exceed 20 mg/ml.
Rechargeable format
Not a disposable vape. The device is rechargeable or refillable.
Packaging
Fiscal stamp
Since 1 January 2025, every product containing e-liquid must carry a fiscal stamp.
Nicotine content
Nicotine concentration clearly stated on the packaging.
Health warning
Mandatory text in three national languages (NL/FR/DE) on at least 30% of the two largest side panels.
Legal information
Packaging includes all mandatory information: ingredients, nicotine content, manufacturer, fiscal stamp and ECID.
Flavour name
"Mint": one word, in accordance with the legal naming rule.
Product
Disposable format
Disposable vapes are banned in Belgium, even without nicotine.
Large tank capacity
Often 5 to 12 ml, well above the legal limit of 2 ml.
Attractive design
Bright colours and cartoons targeting minors. Explicitly prohibited.
Multiple words
"Iron Brew": a flavour name with multiple words is explicitly prohibited.
LED lights
Decorative LED lights in red and green at the bottom of the device. Non-functional light effects are prohibited.
Packaging
High nicotine content
Often 50 mg/ml or more (salt nicotine), up to 10x the legal limit of 20 mg/ml.
No fiscal stamp
Does not contain a fiscal stamp. Since January 2025, every product on the Belgian market must carry a fiscal stamp.
Not notified
This product is not on the positive list of FPS Public Health and is therefore prohibited on the Belgian market.
No correct nicotine warning
The nicotine warning must be stated in three languages in Belgium (NL/FR/DE). On illegal products it is missing or incomplete.
What's in an illegal vape?
Belgian and international studies repeatedly find the same dangerous substances in unregulated vaping products.
Collected from pupils at 23 Flemish and Brussels secondary schools. Analysed by Inter Scientific (Liverpool).
Up to 10x more nicotine
Some samples contained up to 10 times more nicotine than the legal limit of 20 mg/ml.
Heavy metals in the vapour
Nickel, zinc and lead were detected in the vapour.
9 out of 10 above 2 ml
Nine out of ten tested vapes exceeded the legal tank limit of 2 ml.
Spice detected
Synthetic cannabinoids were found in multiple samples.
Targeting minors
All tested vapes had bright colours, cartoons or LED lights.
From school
The vapes were collected from pupils at 23 secondary schools.
Substances found
Heavy metals
Contains nickel, zinc, lead, cadmium and chromium, released when low-quality components are heated.
These metals are toxic when inhaled and accumulate in the lungs and organs.
Pesticides
Residues of agricultural chemicals were detected in the liquid.
These substances are not intended for inhalation and the long-term effects are unknown.
Diacetyl and acetyl propionyl
Flavourings that are harmful when inhaled.
Linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as "popcorn lung".
Synthetic cannabinoids
Spice: up to 50x stronger than regular cannabis, addictive potential comparable to heroin.
CBD and THC in e-liquids are prohibited in Belgium. The NICC reports a sharp increase in vape cases involving synthetic cannabis. In England, 1 in 6 school vapes contains spice.
Vitamin E acetate
Thickening agent in illegal THC and nicotine liquids.
Linked to EVALI in the US: 2,807 hospitalisations and 68 deaths (CDC, 2020).
VRT NWS/Pano · Sciensano · Poison Centre · CDC (VS)
What is and isn't allowed?
Belgian legislation makes a clear distinction per product category. Below are the main rules.
Disposable vapes
ProhibitedCompletely prohibited in Belgium, with and without nicotine, regardless of content or brand. Belgium is the first EU country with this ban.
- Recognisable by large capacity, high puff count (3,000 to 12,000+ puffs) and disposable format
- Bright colours, LED lights or attractive features for minors: prohibited
Max. nicotine per ml
Max. per bottle (with nicotine)
Max. per tank or cartridge
E-liquids with nicotine
- Maximum 10 ml per bottle RD 28/10/2016, art. 6, §2
- Maximum 20 mg/ml nicotine concentration RD 28/10/2016, art. 6, §1
- Child-safe cap and leak-free filling RD 28/10/2016, art. 6, §4
- Flavour name: maximum one word, in Helvetica with a maximum font size of 10pt RD 7/11/2022
- Mandatory information on the label RD 28/10/2016, art. 8
E-liquids without nicotine
- Larger bottles allowed (50 ml or 100 ml is common)
- No nicotine limit applicable
- CBD prohibited in all e-liquids, including without nicotine RD 28/10/2016 + Opium Act
- Packaging and safety requirements remain applicable RD 28/10/2016, art. 5 and 7
Pod systems
- Refillable cartridge or pod: maximum 2 ml capacity RD 28/10/2016, art. 6, §2
- E-liquid in refill bottles: maximum 10 ml with nicotine RD 28/10/2016, art. 6, §2
- The device itself has no direct capacity limit, but the cartridge does
Mods and tanks
- Tanks on a mod: maximum 2 ml capacity RD 28/10/2016, art. 6, §2
- Nicotine liquid may contain a maximum of 10 ml per bottle with a concentration of no more than 20 mg/ml RD 28/10/2016, art. 6, §1-2
- Sub-ohm tanks with large capacity are non-compliant with nicotine-containing liquid
De 2 ml-grens voor tanks en cartridges en de 10 ml-grens voor e-liquidflesjes zijn afkomstig uit de EU Tabaksproductenrichtlijn TPD2 (2014/40/EU), omgezet in Belgisch recht via het KB van 28 oktober 2016, gewijzigd op 7 november 2022. Het wegwerpverbod staat in het KB van 16 juli 2024, gepubliceerd in het Belgisch Staatsblad.
What must appear on the packaging?
Packaging is often the first indicator of whether a product is compliant. A legal vaping product must meet strict labelling rules.
Health warning
"This product contains nicotine, an addictive substance." Mandatory in three national languages (NL/FR/DE) on at least 30% of the surface area of the two largest side panels of the packaging.
ECID
Every legal vaping product has a unique EU-CEG registration number. Without an ECID, the product has not been notified and is prohibited on the Belgian market.
Fiscal stamp
Mandatory fiscal stamp with QR code and indication of the total volume of the packaging. If the packaging contains multiple bottles, the combined volume is listed. Without a valid fiscal stamp, the product may not be sold in Belgium.
Flavour name: the one-word rule
The suggestion of a flavour may only be indicated with a single word, in Helvetica (regular weight), black or white, with a maximum font size of 10pt. Applies to all e-liquids with and without nicotine.
Examples
Poison Centre
Phone number mandatory on all vaping products, with or without nicotine.
070 245 245
Other information
- List of ingredients and emissions
- Nicotine content in mg/ml
- Instructions for use and storage
- Name and address of the manufacturer or importer
- Production number for traceability
- Child safety pictogram and tamper-proof indicator
Want to know if your vape complies with Belgian legislation?
Check your vape