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Using HTP in Italy

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: 2026-08-07

Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are regulated as tobacco products and are allowed by law in Italy. They can be sold and used and are available in specialised retail places. The law allows health benefit claims of HTPs but in the same time requires health warnings on their packaging and puts restrictions on their flavours.

Data show that the number of HTP users in Italy has increased in recent years. The number of HTP users has increased from an estimated 572,000 adult individuals to an estimated 2.3 million adult people in 2024. This means that the prevalence of HTP use has increased from 1.1% to 4.5% in 2024. Likewise, daily use prevalence of HTP has increased from 2.2% in 2020 to 3.7% in 2023. In a survey conducted in 2023, 7% of the participants stated that they had ever tried HTP.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 572,046 1A A
2020 1.5 million 1B
2022 1.7 million 1C A
2023 2.3 million 1D
2023 1.9 million 1C A
2024 2.3 million 1C A
References:
  1. 1. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/fumo/epidemiologia-italia 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 1. Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (v1.00). (2021). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  3. 1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12703631/ 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  4. 1. Special Eurobarometer SP539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products (v1.00). (2024). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s2995_99_3_sp539_eng 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 15+. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 1.1% 2A A
2020 2.9% 2B
2022 3.2% 2C A
2023 4.5% 2D
2023 3.7% 2C A
2024 4.5% 2C A
References:
  1. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/fumo/epidemiologia-italia
  2. Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (v1.00). (2021). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12703631/
  4. Special Eurobarometer SP539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products (v1.00). (2024). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s2995_99_3_sp539_eng
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 15+.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 1.1 million 3A A
2023 1.9 million 3B A
References:
  1. 1. Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (v1.00). (2021). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 1. Special Eurobarometer SP539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products (v1.00). (2024). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s2995_99_3_sp539_eng 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Comments:
  1. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 2.2% 4A
2023 3.7% 4B
References:
  1. Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (v1.00). (2021). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  2. Special Eurobarometer SP539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products (v1.00). (2024). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s2995_99_3_sp539_eng
Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 0.1% 4A A
2020 5% 4B
2023 7% 4C
References:
  1. Global Action to End Smoking. State of Smoking and Health in Italy. Available at: https://globalactiontoendsmoking.org/research/tobacco-around-the-world/italy/. Accessed: 17 July 2025.
  2. Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (v1.00). (2021). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  3. Special Eurobarometer SP539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products (v1.00). (2024). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s2995_99_3_sp539_eng
Comments:
  1. 12% male and 8% female
References:
  1. 1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12703631/ 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12703631/
  3. 1. Special Eurobarometer SP539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products (v1.00). (2024). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s2995_99_3_sp539_eng 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  4. Special Eurobarometer SP539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products (v1.00). (2024). [Data set]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. https://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/s2995_99_3_sp539_eng
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 15+. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. Cohort: 15+.
  3. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/

Product promotion

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Heated Tobacco Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 16 July 2025.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed 1A A
2023 Allowed 1B
References:
  1. 1. Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system; 2. WHO (2018) Heated tobacco products (Htps) market monitoring information sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/prod_regulation/htps-marketing-monitoring/en/ 3. BAT harm Reduction report 2018. Available at: https://www.bat.com/group/sites/uk__9d9kcy.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9DCL3P
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Heated Tobacco. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/heated-tobacco/countries?country=386. Accessed: 10 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. 1. IQOS; 2. glo
Yes
1
2023
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Heated Tobacco. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/heated-tobacco/countries?country=386. Accessed: 10 July 2025.

Availability

References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Heated Tobacco. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/heated-tobacco/countries?country=386. Accessed: 10 July 2025.
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Heated Tobacco Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 16 July 2025.
  3. 1. Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system; 2. WHO (2018) Heated tobacco products (Htps) market monitoring information sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/prod_regulation/htps-marketing-monitoring/en/ 3. BAT harm Reduction report 2018. Available at: https://www.bat.com/group/sites/uk__9d9kcy.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9DCL3P
Comments:
  1. 1. IQOS; 2. glo

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Heated Tobacco Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 16 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Only tobacco flavours or NO flavours are allowed.

Tax

Between 10% and 50% of those levied on cigarettes
1
2024
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Heated Tobacco Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 16 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.