The Health Ministry on Tuesday said it was weighing a total ban on sales of e-cigarettes, following other countries that have sought to crack down on what has been described as a vaping epidemic.
The ministry said it was imposing an immediate ban on sales of flavored cartridges of oil used in the smoking devices. It was also considering imposing a blanket ban on sales via a temporary injunction, without waiting for the Knesset to pass new regulations.
Recent cases in the United States have raised concerns over the safety of e-cigarettes. Authorities continue their efforts to get to the bottom of this new health crisis, with vitamin E acetate having been identified as a chemical of concern. In the face of this, many consumers are understandably questioning how they can be reassured about the products they are using.
While e-cigarettes are well established in many countries, there are big differences between the way the US regulates vaping compared to other regions like the EU. [...]