Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/586 of 14 April 2016 on technical standards for the refill mechanism of electronic cigarettes (notified under document C(2016) 2093) (Text with EEA relevance)

This Decision lays down the technical standards for the refill mechanism of electronic cigarettes manufactured in or imported into the Union.

1 Member States shall ensure that refillable electronic cigarettes and refill containers are only placed on the market if the mechanism by which the electronic cigarettes are refilled meets one of the following conditions: (a) it entails the use of a refill container possessing a securely attached nozzle at least 9 mm long, which is narrower than and slots comfortably into the opening of the tank of the electronic cigarette with which it is used and possessing a flow control mechanism that emits no more than 20 drops of refill liquid per minute when placed vertically and subjected to atmospheric pressure alone at 20 °C ± 5 °C; (b) it operates by means of a docking system which only releases refill liquids into the tank of the electronic cigarette when the electronic cigarette and refill container are connected.

2 Member States shall ensure that refillable electronic cigarettes and refill containers include appropriate instructions for refilling, including diagrams, as part of the instructions for use required by Article 20(4)(a)(i) of Directive 2014/40/EU. Refillable electronic cigarettes and refill containers with a refill mechanism of the type referred to in paragraph 1(a) shall indicate the width of the nozzle or width of the opening of the tank in the instructions for use in a manner that enables consumers to identify the compatibility of refill containers and electronic cigarettes. Refillable electronic cigarettes and refill containers with a refill mechanism of the type referred to in paragraph 1(b) shall specify, in the instructions for use, the types of docking system with which such electronic cigarettes and refill containers are compatible.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.