The government of Spain has approved a decision on January 16th to ban the sale of tobacco heating systems that are considered harmful for public health. This includes products like IQOS, and it also requires warnings about public health risks to be placed on these products, similar to cigarette and cigar packs. The decision, which has gained strength over the course of three months since its publication, aims to promote public health in Spain.

Tobacco heating systems, such as IQOS, utilize high temperatures to vaporize nicotine from tobacco sticks through a process called pyrolysis. Unlike traditional cigarettes, these systems do not burn the leaves and therefore do not produce smoke.

Despite a decrease in smoking levels in Spain in recent years, the number of regular smokers remains high, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization. Approximately every fourth Spaniard above the age of 14 uses tobacco on a daily basis.

In addition to the recent ban on heating systems for tobacco, Spain has also implemented a new regulation requiring tobacco-producing companies to bear the cost of cleaning cigarette butts discarded by smokers. This conservation regulation aims to address the environmental impact of cigarette waste.