Switzerland
RestrictedOnline Sales
Allowed
Offline Sales
Allowed
Legal Age
18+
Ban Scope
Partial
Allowed Product Types
Pod SystemDisposableRefillable
Purchase Channels
OnlineSpecialty StoreConvenience StoreVending Machine
Required Certifications
Swiss TPD
Complete Policy Details
Latest Developments
1. The Electronic Cigarette Tax Act comes into effect: Starting from spring 2026, for the first time, a consumption tax will be levied on nicotine containing e-liquids and disposable electronic cigarettes (see "Taxation" column for details). The tax rate for disposable devices is significantly higher than that for reusable devices, aiming to prevent young people from trying them out.
In the legislation on the ban on disposable electronic cigarettes, a motion will be passed by the Federal Parliament in the spring of 2025, pending approval by the Federal House; Some states (Vale, Jura, Basel, etc.) have taken the lead in implementing state-level bans. But in April 2026, the Geneva Judicial Court ruled that the state-level ban violated the principle of federal law priority, temporarily requiring the federal level to complete the legislative process as soon as possible.
3. Tobacco taxes and medical research: In January 2026, the Tobacco Research Promotion Fund (Tabakforschungshift funds) will be added, and tobacco and nicotine product taxes will be partially used to fund tobacco and addiction research and prevention.
Policy Trends
1. Mild taxation with a tendency towards reusability: Switzerland adopts a "differential tax rate" strategy for electronic cigarettes, imposing extremely low tax rates on reusable electronic cigarettes to encourage smoking cessation and assisted use, and imposing high tax rates on disposable electronic cigarettes to deter youth consumption.
2. Comprehensive tightening of advertising restrictions: According to the "Protecting Children and Adolescents from Tobacco Advertising" initiative passed by the 2022 national referendum, tobacco and e-cigarette advertising will be fully restricted from 2026, covering newspapers, public places, event sponsorships, and online advertising.
3. Federal ban legislation completed: After the federal parliament passes the motion to ban disposable electronic cigarettes in 2025, it is expected that legislation will be completed at the federal level in 2026-2027. After the ruling of the Geneva Court, the state bans will wait for a unified federal standard.
4. Continuous strengthening of youth protection: the minimum purchase age is 18 years old, and vending machines are prohibited from selling to minors (mandatory age control system).
5. Taste freedom, prohibition of specific harmful ingredients: Switzerland has no special restrictions on the taste of electronic cigarettes, but the law strictly prohibits the addition of 25 specific harmful substances that may increase toxicity
Taxation
Reusable electronic cigarettes (including nicotine e-liquid): 0.20 Swiss francs/mL (approximately 0.21 euros). This tax rate is intentionally kept low to avoid hindering smokers from turning to e-cigarettes to quit smoking. Only e-liquids containing nicotine are subject to taxation, while reusable e-cigarettes without nicotine are exempt from taxation.
Disposable electronic cigarettes (with or without nicotine): 1.00 Swiss francs/mL. Regardless of whether they contain nicotine, they are charged per milliliter of e-liquid capacity, aiming to prevent young people from consuming and provide funding for waste management through high tax rates.
Estimated annual tax revenue: approximately 13.8 million Swiss francs, to be used for pension, disability insurance, and the newly established Tobacco Research Promotion Fund
Sales Channel Restrictions
Prohibition of Sales to Minors: Starting from October 1, 2024, the sale of any electronic cigarette products to individuals under the age of 18 will be uniformly prohibited nationwide.
Mandatory age control for online sales and vending machines: Reliable age verification systems must be implemented for online sales and vending machine sales.
State level sales restrictions: Valais and Jura states have banned the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes; Geneva had proposed a ban but it was revoked by the court due to jurisdictional issues.
Import restrictions: Nicotine e-liquid imports must be declared and taxed to customs at the applicable tax rate; Importers or manufacturers must register in advance with the Tobacco and Beer Tariff Bureau (TABI) and pay a registration fee of 50 Swiss francs.
Prohibition of health claims: Do not promote smoking cessation assistance or other health benefits in the market.
Cross border remote sales: Applicable to general remote sales regulations, must comply with Swiss advertising and age verification requirements.
Age Restrictions
18+
Flavour Restrictions
unrestricted
Product Specifications
Upper limit of nicotine concentration: 20 mg/mL. Manufacturers must demonstrate compliance through testing according to the SN EN ISO 20714:2022 standard.
Capacity limit for e-liquid: ≤ 2 mL for disposable electronic cigarettes and single use cartridges; ≤ 10 mL for refillable fuel tanks.
Prohibited ingredients: Prohibit the use of 25 harmful ingredients (listed in Annex 1), including safrole, camphor, coumarin, thujone, etc; Prohibit vitamins, caffeine, taurine, coloring additives, and CMR substances; Prohibit other addictive or psychoactive substances other than nicotine.
CBD allowed to be added: CBD (cannabidiol) is allowed to be added to e-liquid, but the THC content must not exceed 1%.
Additive management: Adopt a negative list system to prohibit any substances outside the list that may increase toxicity or pose a risk to health.
Taste restrictions: No special restrictions, allowing multiple flavors such as fruit, mint, tobacco, etc
Hardware Requirements
Child proof and tamper proof packaging (CR/TP): All e-liquid containers and filling devices must be designed to be child proof and tamper proof (SN EN ISO 8317:2016 or SN EN ISO 28862:2023).
Leak proof filling mechanism: One of the following conditions must be met: (a) nozzle length ≥ 9 millimeters, equipped with a flow controller (≤ 20 drops per minute); (b) A docking system that only releases liquid when connected to a device.
Battery safety: Electronic cigarette devices must comply with relevant international electrical safety standards such as IEC 62133.
Additive compliance: The plastic and metal materials used must comply with food grade safety standards (harmful substances such as BPA are prohibited for cigarette butts).
Product labeling requirements: The packaging must be labeled with product description, usage instructions, manufacturer name or customs number, and country of origin in at least one official language (German, French, or Italian).
Instruction requirements: The packaging must include a multilingual instruction manual, including a list of ingredients, usage and storage guidelines, contraindications, risk group warnings, and manufacturer contact information
Packaging Requirements
Health Warning: 35% of the area below the most prominent side of the packaging must be printed with a health warning. The warning message for nicotine containing products is: "This product may harm health and has a high degree of addiction" (in order of German, French, and Italian); The warning for nicotine free products is: 'This product may harm health'. The font must be Helvetica Neue LT 75 Bold.
In addition, all products must indicate 'Not recommended for minors and non-smokers'.
Mandatory information display: Packaging must be labeled with product description, instructions for use, manufacturer name or customs registration number, and country of origin in at least one official language.
Nicotine concentration labeling: It must be clearly labeled in mg/mL at all sales points.
Prohibition information: It is prohibited to label content that has therapeutic, relieving, or preventive effects on diseases, prohibit suggestive words such as "low toxicity", "gentle", and "harmless", and prohibit food/fruit/cartoon images, etc.
Flat packaging: Switzerland has fully implemented standardized neutral packaging and prohibits brand logo decorative elements.
Instruction manual requirements: The packaging must include a list of ingredients (in descending order of content), usage and storage guidelines, contraindications, risk group warnings, and a multilingual instruction manual with manufacturer contact information.
Advertising Restrictions
Completely prohibit online advertising (including social media, influencer promotion, and search engine keyword purchases)
Offline advertising is only allowed to be displayed inside professional electronic cigarette stores (at least 3 meters away from doors and windows and not visible from the outside)
Sponsorship ban: Electronic cigarette brands are not allowed to sponsor sports events, music festivals, and academic events (the 2024 Zurich Electronic Cigarette Expo was fined 1.2 million Swiss francs for violating regulations)
Notification Requirements
Prior to listing, the following documents must be submitted to the Swiss Therapeutic Products Administration (Swissmedic):
Full component analysis report (including trace substance detection)
Toxicological risk assessment (with a focus on lung exposure data)
Equipment Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Test Certificate
Policy Documents
The Tobacco Products Act (LPTab, Bundesgesetz ü ber Tabakprodukte und elektronische Zigaretten) will come into full effect on October 1, 2024, bringing nicotine containing and nicotine free electronic cigarettes under unified supervision. The revised version introduces additional restrictions on advertising, promotions, and sponsorship.
The Tobacco Products Regulations (VPTab, Verordnung ü ber Tabakprodukte und elektronische Zigaretten) (effective from October 1, 2024).
The revised version of the Tobacco Tax Law (TabStG, Tabaksteurgesetz) will impose tobacco tax on electronic cigarettes for the first time in the spring of 2026.
Draft Regulations on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes: notified to the WTO on December 16, 2025, with a review period until February 14, 2026, to refine compliance requirements for online advertising age control and vending machine sales.
Federal Tobacco Advertising Restriction Act (revised based on public initiative in 2022)
Competent Authorities
1. The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) is a key agency in Switzerland responsible for formulating tobacco prevention policies at the federal level
2. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) is responsible for consumer goods and will continue to play a role in regulating electronic cigarettes until new federal laws come into effect
3. The Federal Customs Administration (EZV) monitors the import of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes
4. The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) is the agency responsible for tax policy
Policy Details
1. The Electronic Cigarette Tax Act comes into effect: Starting from spring 2026, for the first time, a consumption tax will be levied on nicotine containing e-liquids and disposable electronic cigarettes (see "Taxation" column for details). The tax rate for disposable devices is significantly higher than that for reusable devices, aiming to prevent young people from trying them out.
In the legislation on the ban on disposable electronic cigarettes, a motion will be passed by the Federal Parliament in the spring of 2025, pending approval by the Federal House; Some states (Vale, Jura, Basel, etc.) have taken the lead in implementing state-level bans. But in April 2026, the Geneva Judicial Court ruled that the state-level ban violated the principle of federal law priority, temporarily requiring the federal level to complete the legislative process as soon as possible.
3. Tobacco taxes and medical research: In January 2026, the Tobacco Research Promotion Fund (Tabakforschungshift funds) will be added, and tobacco and nicotine product taxes will be partially used to fund tobacco and addiction research and prevention.
1. Mild taxation with a tendency towards reusability: Switzerland adopts a "differential tax rate" strategy for electronic cigarettes, imposing extremely low tax rates on reusable electronic cigarettes to encourage smoking cessation and assisted use, and imposing high tax rates on disposable electronic cigarettes to deter youth consumption.
2. Comprehensive tightening of advertising restrictions: According to the "Protecting Children and Adolescents from Tobacco Advertising" initiative passed by the 2022 national referendum, tobacco and e-cigarette advertising will be fully restricted from 2026, covering newspapers, public places, event sponsorships, and online advertising.
3. Federal ban legislation completed: After the federal parliament passes the motion to ban disposable electronic cigarettes in 2025, it is expected that legislation will be completed at the federal level in 2026-2027. After the ruling of the Geneva Court, the state bans will wait for a unified federal standard.
4. Continuous strengthening of youth protection: the minimum purchase age is 18 years old, and vending machines are prohibited from selling to minors (mandatory age control system).
5. Taste freedom, prohibition of specific harmful ingredients: Switzerland has no special restrictions on the taste of electronic cigarettes, but the law strictly prohibits the addition of 25 specific harmful substances that may increase toxicity
Last Updated: 2026-10