2023-10-05 14:05:00
The Minister of Public Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) announced Thursday in the plenary session of the Chamber that he wanted to resolutely tackle the use of electronic cigarettes.
According to a survey published Wednesday by the Cancer Foundation, 35% of 15-20 year olds have already used electronic cigarettes and 32% have done so in the past year.
Questioned by Karin Jiroflée (Vooruit), Els Van Hoof (CD&V) and Mieke Claes (N-VA), Frank Vandenroucke presented a five-point action plan. “Selling an electronic cigarette to a minor is prohibited”he recalled.
Therefore, the minister wants to set up a “mystery shopping” system (fake customer) with sanctions for businesses that contravene the law. Then, Frank Vandenbroucke indicated that he was working on a bill aimed at forcing the merchant to ask the customer’s age if he appeared to be under 25 years old.
Third, the minister said he was working on banning disposable electronic cigarettes. According to him, Belgium is taking the lead at the European level: the file was submitted to the European Commission in 2021 and the minister put forward additional arguments a few weeks ago. He hopes to receive a positive response early next year and ban them from 2025. In any case, a ban on the sale of models equipped with lights and other gadgets will already come into force from 1 January next year.
Finally, the minister also wants a ban on the exhibition of these products in windows or displays.
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