E-cigarettes in the Netherlands

Netherlands: The House of Representatives has approved a motion calling on the government to introduce mandatory neutral appearance for e-cigarette devices themselves, not just their packaging, media reports. Also passed was a motion demanding a licensing requirement for tobacco sales outlets.

Netherlands: Governing coalition party Democrats 66 was today set to submit a motion to the House of Representatives calling for an enforced change in the appearance of e-cigarettes to make them “as neutral and uniform as possible”, media reports.

Netherlands: A Ministry of Health regulation on banned flavours in e-cigarettes came into force on 1st January, providing a list of flavouring additives that can be used in e-liquids. It sets a grace period until 1st October for existing products produced or released before 1st July 2023 and for which a notification was made through the common entry gate no later than 28th November 2022.

Netherlands: Four organisations have launched a citizens’ initiative to achieve a nicotine-free generation. They want the age limit for the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing products to be raised by a year annually from 2030. The initiative needs to collect 40,000 signatures to be discussed in the House of Representatives.

Netherlands: Health secretary Maarten van Ooijen has issued a regulation to come into force on 1st January 2023, listing the flavouring additives that can be used in e-liquids, with or without nicotine. It also sets a grace period for existing products until 1st October 2023, provided they are produced or released before 1st July 2023 and have been notified through the common entry gate by the day of publication of this regulation.

Netherlands: Health minister Maarten van Ooijen has adopted a ministerial order amending the Tobacco and Smoking Products Decree to regulate flavours for e-cigarettes. The decree bans taste-determining additives in both nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-liquids from 1st January 2023, other than those designated by ministerial regulation. The decree makes no mention of a grace period for existing products or any defined list of allowed ingredients, which we expect to be approved soon.

Netherlands: The House of Representatives has called on the government to take extra measures to ensure better enforcement of the ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, media reports.

Netherlands: Asked whether a consumption tax or excise tax on e-cigarettes and e-liquids would be added to the 2023 Tax Plan, finance minister Marnix van Rij said the government was awaiting proposals from the European Commission reviewing the Tobacco Excise Directive, media reports. The government is not expected to introduce its own tax, believing an approach at European level to be more effective.