Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in Italy

In Italy, e-cigarettes are legal and regulated. They can be purchased online and in specialised retail shops. Health-related claims about e-cigarettes are allowed as long as they meet regulatory requirements, while all advertising and promotional activities are completely banned. E-cigarette products are also subject to an excise tax which amounts to 10% of the rate applied to traditional cigarettes. Italy has a comprehensive framework in place for how e-cigarettes are made and sold. Under this framework, companies must notify authorities before introducing new products to the market. All packaging must display clear health warnings and use child-resistant, tamper-proof containers. Moreover, sales are limited to people aged 18 and over. The nicotine concentration in e-liquids cannot exceed 20 mg/ml, and tank sizes are restricted to 2 ml or less, in line with EU rules. There are no limits on flavours, but using e-cigarettes is banned in certain public places.
In 2023, an estimated 1.6 million people in Italy were reported to be current e-cigarette users. The adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence was reported to be 3%, while the adult daily e-cigarette vaping prevalence was estimated to be 1.5%. Public opinion data from a survey in 2017 showed that 46% of Italians thought e-cigarettes were not harmful or less harmful than regular cigarettes, 34% believed they were harmful or more harmful, and 20% said they were not sure.