Latvia

The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in places where smoking is prohibited because the Law on Trade in Tobacco Products, Herbal Smoking Products, Electronic Smoking Devices and Associated Liquids (as amended) defines "smoking" to include the use of e-cigarettes.

The law prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in a list of specified places that includes most workplaces, public places, and public transport. However, “premises designated for smoking” are permitted in several places, including prisons, hotel guest rooms, casinos, games rooms, and departure halls of international airports. Additionally, long-distance trains and passenger ships are allowed to have separate smoking cars and cabins. As a result of these exemptions, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.

The Electronic Media Law prohibits advertising e-cigarettes and refill containers in audio and audiovisual commercial communications. However, the law does not apply to electronic mass media intended for reception only in countries which are not European Union Member States or European Convention on Transfrontier Television Member States.

The law prohibits advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes and refill containers with certain exceptions. These exceptions include trade publications, as well as publications or online communications that are issued and printed in countries that are not European Union Member States or states of European Economic Area and are not intended for these markets.

In addition, the Law on Advertising prohibits all misleading advertising. The law also prohibits any depiction of the use of e-cigarettes in permitted advertising; the free distribution of e-cigarettes and refill containers; and the marketing of sweets, snacks, toys, or other items resembling e-cigarettes which are attractive to minors.

The law bans sponsorship of any event and activity that involves or takes place in several European Union Member States or states of the European Economic Area, or otherwise has a cross-border effect.

The law prohibits the display of e-cigarettes, refill containers, and trademarks of these products in retail outlets. However, this provision does not apply to duty-free shops, ships on international voyages, and retail outlets exclusively selling tobacco products, herbal smoking products, e-cigarettes, and refill containers if these are in separate premises with separate entrances and these displays are not visible from outside of the outlets. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.

The law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and refill containers “by means of distance contracts.” This is interpreted as prohibiting all internet sales to consumers.

There is no law addressing flavors in e-cigarettes; therefore, the use of flavors in e-cigarettes is allowed.

The law prohibits e-liquid which contains:

- vitamins or other additives that create the impression that a tobacco product has a health benefit or presents reduced health risks;
- caffeine or taurine or other additives and stimulant compounds that are associated with energy and vitality;
- additives having coloring properties for emissions;
- additives that facilitate inhalation or nicotine uptake; or
- additives that have carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic properties in unburnt form.

The law also requires that e-liquid only contains ingredients of high purity which do not pose a risk to human health in heated or unheated form.

The law requires a health warning in Latvian to be printed on each unit packet and any outside packaging of an e-cigarette and refill container. The warning reads: "This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance." The warning must be placed on the two largest surfaces, covering 30%. Warnings must be printed in black ink in Helvetica bold on a white background in the center of the surface intended for them; on cuboid shaped unit packets and any outside packaging the general warning and informative notice the warnings should be located parallel to the unit packet or outside packaging side edge.

The law prohibits any packaging or labeling which:

- promotes e-cigarettes or refill containers by creating an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, risks, or emissions;
- suggests that a particular e-cigarette or refill container is less harmful than others or aims to reduce the effect of some harmful components of smoke or have vitalizing, energizing, healing, rejuvenating, natural, organic properties or that they are in any other way beneficial to health or lifestyle;
- refers to taste, smell, any flavorings or other additives or the absence thereof (except for ingredient lists);
- resembles a food or a cosmetic product; or
- suggests that a certain product has improved biodegradability or other environmental advantages.

The law establishes a maximum concentration of nicotine in nicotine-containing liquid of 20 milligrams per milliliter.

The law imposes limits on refill container volume (10 milliliters) and on cartridges or tank volume in single-use e-cigarettes (2 milliliters).

The law requires that e-cigarettes deliver nicotine doses at consistent levels under normal conditions of use.

The law requires that e-cigarettes and refill containers are child- and tamper-proof, are protected against breakage and leakage, and have a mechanism that ensures refilling without leakage.

The law requires manufacturers and importers to submit to the Health Inspectorate information about ingredients and additives used in the manufacture of e-cigarettes and refill containers. Information must be submitted for both e-cigarettes and refill containers that have already been placed on the market and e-cigarettes and refill containers planned to be placed on the market or whose composition is modified. In addition, manufacturers and importers must submit information on sales volume, which products are preferred by various consumer groups, mode of sale, and summaries of market surveys carried out.

The law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and refill containers in certain locations: in State administration institutions (with exceptions for National Armed Forces and prisons with prisoners older than 18); in social care, medical treatment, and educational institutions; in store departments selling children’s goods; at cultural institutions; at sports facilities; and at retail outlets where individual customers are not served (with an exception for specified tax-free shops).

The law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and refill containers from vending machines.