Explicitly exempts replacement cartridges ('Les cartouches sont exclues de cette definition') and rechargeable pod bases
To be legal in the UK from 1 June 2025, a complete device must be both rechargeable (USB-C) and refillable or pod-replaceable
Belgian FPS Health prohibits single-use finished e-cigarettes; M7 x 0.5 mm 510 cartridges and reusable pod batteries remain legal
Intra-EU road delivery from Haarlem (NL) to Brussels/Antwerp in 24 hours and Paris/Lyon/Marseille in 48 hours
1. Statutory scope of the French (Loi 2025-175), Belgian and UK bans: what is prohibited vs explicitly permitted
In France, Law No. 2025-175 of 24 February 2025 inserted Article L.3513-5-1 into the Code de la sante publique: it prohibits holding for sale, offering, or distributing electronic vaping devices that are "pre-filled with a liquid and cannot be refilled, whether or not they have a rechargeable battery." Crucially, the second sentence of Article L.3513-5-1 states verbatim: "Les cartouches sont exclues de cette definition" (Cartridges are excluded from this definition). That means M7 x 0.5 mm 510 cartridges and replaceable magnetic pods paired with a rechargeable USB-C battery base are 100% legal in France.
Similarly, under the UK Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations 2024 (in force 1 June 2025), a vape is only prohibited if it is either not rechargeable OR not refillable (where "refillable" includes accepting replaceable pre-filled or refillable pods/cartridges, provided the heating coil is either inside the replaceable pod or separately replaceable).
| Hardware SKU Architecture | France (Loi 2025-175 / Art. L.3513-5-1) | Belgium (Royal Decree / 1 Jan 2025) | United Kingdom (1 June 2025 Regs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M7 x 0.5 mm Empty 510 Cartridges (0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, 2.0 ml) | LEGAL (Explicitly excluded from ban as cartridges) | LEGAL (Not a single-use battery device) | LEGAL (Replaceable cartridge with integrated coil) |
| Rechargeable USB-C Pod Battery + Replaceable 2 ml Pods | LEGAL (Reusable battery + excluded replacement pod) | LEGAL (Reusable modular pod system) | LEGAL (Meets both rechargeable and pod-replaceable tests) |
| Sealed Pre-Filled Non-Refillable All-in-One Pens | PROHIBITED for retail sale (EUR 100,000 fine) | PROHIBITED for retail sale since 1 Jan 2025 | PROHIBITED for retail sale since 1 June 2025 |
2. Why unpopulated 510 cartridges and USB-C rechargeable pod kits pass DGCCRF, FPS Health and UK Trading Standards
All three national prohibitions target battery-waste pollution from sealed, single-use devices where the lithium-ion cell is discarded after a single tank of liquid is consumed. When a brand transitions to unpopulated 510 cartridges + 510 batteries or to 2 ml magnetic pod systems, the lithium battery base is retained and recharged hundreds of times via USB-C, while only the non-battery cartridge or pod is replaced. Use our EU Member-State Vape Ban & Import VAT Calculator to verify your exact hardware SKU before ordering.
3. Customs invoice descriptions, French TVAI auto-liquidation and Intra-EU road delivery from Haarlem
When shipping to France, Belgium, or the United Kingdom, never allow a customs invoice to use the words "Disposable Vape" or "Puff" for replacement pods or 510 cartridges. Instead, specify "Unpopulated replacement atomizer cartridge (non-disposable part, zero liquid, zero nicotine, zero battery) - TARIC 8543.90.00.00". Ordering directly from EmptyVapes in Haarlem (Netherlands) eliminates French (Roissy CDG) and Belgian (Antwerp/Liege) import customs entirely: goods travel across open EU borders by road courier in 24 to 48 hours at 0% Intra-EU reverse-charge VAT.
FAQ
- Are empty M7 x 0.5 mm 510 cartridges banned under France's Loi 2025-175 ('anti-puff' law)?
- No. Article L.3513-5-1 of the French Code de la sante publique (inserted by Law No. 2025-175) bans only pre-filled, non-refillable complete devices and explicitly states 'Les cartouches sont exclues de cette definition' (Cartridges are excluded from this definition). Both empty and filled 510 cartridges remain legal.
- What hardware should UK and Belgian brands order to replace single-use disposables?
- UK and Belgian brands transition either to M7 x 0.5 mm 510 cartridges (paired with a reusable USB-C 510 battery) or to 2 ml magnetic rechargeable pod systems where the consumer recharges the USB-C battery body and swaps in fresh ceramic pods.
Sources
- Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) (recast), the official text on EUR-Lex.
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), the official text on EUR-Lex.
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries, the official text on EUR-Lex.
Trade guidance for B2B buyers, not legal advice. We sell empty hardware only; you are responsible for the fill and for finished-product compliance in your market.
