German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider favours banning disposable e-cigarettes in the country.

“That is my very clear preference,” the SPD politician told dpa. “I am very much in favour of it.”

Single-use e-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, have become increasingly popular among young people and teenagers in recent years, with Chinese brands such as Elf Bar and major tobacco companies such as Philip Morris holding strong positions in the market.

The products are already prohibited in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.

Germany’s Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, called on the government to consider banning the products in November. The Bundesrat, or upper house, has already signalled its support for a ban, but the government has expressed legal concerns.

Schneider said his position was based on health, environmental and safety concerns.

“These things are dangerous. If they end up in a waste disposal facility, they can explode, and they do explode,” the minister said. “And there is a fire in a waste disposal facility every day.”

This not only endangers employees, but is also harmful to the environment, he said.

According to an estimate by the industry association BfTG, German residents will spend €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) on e-cigarettes this year.

Around 10% of the figure is spent on disposable products, down from 40% in 2022.