In short
E-liquids on Belgian market contain over 1,800 different substances, but many have not been properly tested for safety when inhaled. Sciensano is commissioned by the Federal Public Service Public Health to create an official list of ingredients that are proven to be safe for use. Harmful or risky substances will be banned. This will make e-cigarettes less harmful for consumers and allow better regulatory control over what can be sold in these products.
Project description
The e-cigarette market is rapidly evolving, with over 1,800 ingredients found in e-liquids on Belgian market, many of which are not well-characterised toxicologically. To safeguard public health, the development of a whitelist of authorised ingredients that are safe for use, based on scientific evidence, is essential. At the request of the Federal Public Service Public Health, Sciensano is preparing this list, which will be formalised via a ministerial decree.
The project begins with the chemical characterisation of complex mixtures (e.g., extracts, essential oils) and identification of any known carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR) substances using harmonised classification systems (e.g., CLP,IARC) and the JATC-2 report. These substances are explicitly banned under the EU Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU).
A major challenge lies in the lack of toxicological data for more than 75% of the ingredients. To address this, we will establish a preliminary list, “freezing” the current pool of ingredients to prevent continuous market expansion and allowing time for proper evaluation. We will develop criteria for ingredient removal based on existing legal frameworks, scientific advisories, and strategies employed by other EU Member States.
Proposed criteria may include both harmonised and non-harmonised CMR classifications, supported by in silico predictive tools, toxicological databases, and literature. Non-CMR health hazards and frequency or concentration of use may also be considered. A Scientific Committee will review the methodology to ensure consensus and scientific rigor.
Ultimately, we will produce an initial list of ingredients that may be excluded from the whitelist, laying the groundwork for future evaluations. While the list will help protect consumers, it is important to recognise that many remaining ingredients may still require further testing to fully ensure their safety. This project forms a foundational step toward a more scientifically robust regulation of e-cigarette ingredients.
