BELGIUM will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes from January 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move among European Union nations.

Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said inexpensive e-cigarettes had turned into a health threat through being an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and become addicted to nicotine.

“Disposable e-cigarettes are a new product simply designed to attract new consumers,” he said in an interview.