Vape designs should be standardised to reduce the appeal of vaping to children, a Dutch public health body has said.
Research by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RVIM) shows that eye-catching designs and add-ons like Bluetooth and LED lights make vapes particularly attractive to young people.
RVIM, which “works towards a healthy population” based on independent scientific research, is now urging policymakers in the Netherlands to adopt a standardised design for all vapes as well as setting a minimum price.
In a new report - “Options to reduce e-cigarette appeal by regulating the appeal and functionality” - it says: “Features like a sleek design, technical add-ons such as Bluetooth, and ease of concealment are examples that make e-cigarettes attractive to young people, according to research by RIVM.
“That is why RIVM recommends policymakers to consider implementing a standardised design for e-cigarettes. This measure is expected to diminish their appeal and subsequently decrease their usage.”
The report says the number of young people using vapes in the Netherlands has risen sharply in recent years, with 22 per cent of young people aged between 12 and 25 having tried them in 2023.
RVIM says its recommended measures would reduce interest in vaping for children and teenagers without lessening the appeal for adults wanting help to quit smoking.
It says: “E-cigarettes are sometimes used by smokers who struggle to quit, even with proven cessation aids. It is not expected that making them less appealing to young people will get in the way of this goal.”
However, it says more research is needed to determine the exact standardised design and “combination of characteristics” that would be least enticing to young people.
The organisation also recommends setting a minimum price for vapes, as “the affordability of certain types of e-cigarettes also contributes to their appeal”.
From January 1, 2024, the sale of flavoured vapes (with the exception of tobacco) has been banned in the Netherlands, with only plain packaging allowed.
RVIM says introducing a compulsory standardised design “would represent another step towards reducing appeal, aligning with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Several countries have already brought in measures to reduce the appeal of vapes to children. Belgium, for example, prohibits the marketing of vapes with appealing features such as LEDs, which do not contribute to the functioning of the device.
A well-placed source says Belgium is also considering introducing a standardised design for all vapes.
Meanwhile, Canada has banned ‘external or sensory features’ that could be appealing to young people. France and the United Kingdom are moving to ban disposable vapes, which are particularly popular among young people due to their small, colourful designs.
