VILNIUS – As electronic cigarettes are becoming more and more popular, the Lithuanian government plans to back the initiatives now under consideration by the country's parliament to license the production and sale of such cigarettes and their refills.

The Ministry of Economy and Innovation suggests backing the amendments to the existing tobacco law, drafted by MPs Mykolas Majauskas and Vytautas Kernagis, both representing the opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.

Majauskas is proposing banning flavored electronic cigarettes and their refills, with his supporters saying that flavors make young people addicted to nicotine.

The lawmakers is suggesting introducing a ban on such cigarettes as of July, but the ministry is proposing doing so as of May, 2022 for businesses to be able to adapt and prepare for the changes.

The ministry says the European Commission and other EU member states will have to be informed of such changes.

Now in Lithuania, electronic cigarettes can be bought at 500 points of sale.