Profile
Italy Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Italy Background
Profile
Italy Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2024.   Page updated: 2025-11-05

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.

Prevalence

721,925
1
2021
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2021 1.37% 2A
2022 1.7% 2B A
2023 3% 2C
2023 3% 2D
References:
  1. European Commission. (2021). Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (S2240_506_ENG). European Commission. http://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  2. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-ita.pdf?sfvrsn=690e6af7_3&download=true. Accessed: 7 August 2025.
  3. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
  4. Eurobarometer 539 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Survey by DOXA/ISS, 2022; National, ages 15+
3%
2
2023
2%
2
2023
1.5%
3 A
2023
References:
  1. European Commission. (2021). Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (S2240_506_ENG). European Commission. http://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  2. Eurobarometer 539 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  3. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
Comments:
  1. E-cigarettes with nicotine

Product promotion

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=99. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.

Regulation

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed
2024 Allowed 1B
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Yes
2
Yes
2
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
  2. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/

Availability

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
  2. 1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025. 2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=99. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Cross-border distance sale of e-cigarettes is prohibited

Regulations and restrictions

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2022 YES 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=99. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2022 YES 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=99. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2024 YES 2A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 Yes: 18 years 1A
2022 Yes: 18 years 1B
References:
  1. https://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/products/revision_en
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=99. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
NO
2
2024
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2024 Equal or less than 20mg/ml 2A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
YES
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2022 2 ml or less 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=99. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=99. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.

Perception of harm

References:
  1. Reference: European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
Comments:
  1. Question asked in this survey did not compare harmfulness with cigarettes. The question used was 'Do you think they are harmful to the health of people who use them?' 34% - YES, 46% - NO, 20% DON'T KNOW

Tax

Up to 10% of those levied on cigarettes
1
2024
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.