Minister’s Ambitious Plan to Reduce Smoking in Belgium: Key Measures and Stronger Controls

2023-10-24 18:03:16

The minister unveiled his action plan to drastically reduce the number of smokers in Belgium, and prevent young people from starting to smoke. A plan that he considers “ambitious but essential”. Frank Vandenbroucke is already warning: controls will be strengthened and the sanctions very severe! – Photonews By Laurence Piret Journalist in the General editorial team Published on 10/24/2023 at 3:51 p.m.

The Federal Minister of Health has never hidden his desire to reduce smoking in our country. A work that is happening on two fronts. First, that of young people who must be dissuaded from touching their first cigarette. Then, that of smokers, who must be encouraged to put out their last cigarette. Its plan of 10 measures, validated on Friday by the Council of Ministers and which will soon be submitted to the vote of the Chamber, goes in this direction and will considerably change the lives of smokers from January 1.

1. +25% for tobacco prices

This is one of the best ways to encourage smokers to quit and to prevent young people from starting: further increasing excise duties on tobacco products. Cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and electronic cigarettes are targeted. Since the January 1, 2024, they will increase by 25%, or an average of around €2 per pack of cigarettes. The pack of 26 classic Malboros will thus go from €8 currently to €10, a symbolic milestone. Also count +€4 for 100g of smoking tobacco. For electronic cigarettes, an excise of 0.15 euros per ml is introduced.

2. No more displaying tobacco products

Points of sale of tobacco must hide them, in a separate room, a drawer or a cupboard, from January 1, 2025. For example, it is forbidden to display them on the cabinet behind the seller, in service stations. A measure that also applies to e-cigarettes and derived products.

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3. Sales prohibited in new places: festivals and supermarkets

Of the 2025, temporary points of sale, found for example at music festivals, will be prohibited. Since the July 1, 2025, it is supermarkets of more than 400m² which will no longer be able to sell tobacco products. This concerns, for example, Colruyt, Carrefour and the “big” Delhaize, whose surface areas exceed this fixed limit. Horeca establishments will, however, be able to continue to sell them, but the smoking areas of these establishments will be prohibited to minors.

4. Ban smoking where children and young people go

Au January 1, 2025, the list of places where smoking will be prohibited is growing. In addition to amusement parks, there are animal parks, children’s farms and playgrounds. But also the edges of sports fields (except Horeca terraces located near a sports field). The entrances to public places which welcome an audience of children and young people will also become non-smoking, namely those of libraries, hospitals and schools, where smoking will be prohibited within 10 meters of the entrance.

5. Non-smoking private taxis and buses

The ban on smoking in means of transport is extended to professional passenger transport: taxis, buses, etc., from spring 2024.

Read also Bad news for smokers: the federal government is increasing excise duties on tobacco and also on its derived products, here is what you need to know

6. Strengthening controls in points of sale and Horeca establishments

Controls will be very strict, to ensure compliance with all these new rules. Inspectors will target both points of sale, to ensure compliance with the ban on sales to minors in particular, the non-exposure of products… The use of “mystery shopping” will also be reinforced, to possibly catch the merchant in the act. .

In shops and in Horeca establishments too, we will ensure compliance with the rules both with regard to sales and respect for smoking and non-smoking areas. If violations are noted, sanctions will be imposed immediately. And the establishment may be temporarily closed, for a period ranging from one hour to 30 days.

Finally, at from January 1, 2025the law will require the buyer to ask for proof of their age if they appear to be under 25, even if the age limit for the sale of tobacco remains set at 18 years.

7. The electronic cigarette in the crosshairs

These e-cigarettes will have a neutral package, from January 11, 2024. Disposable electronic cigarettes will be banned from 2025.

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8. Nicotine pouches disappear

These are already banned since October 1st lastly, to prevent them from being a means for young people to fall into tobacco addiction.

9. Better reimbursement for nicotine substitutes

If we want to encourage smokers to quit, we must also encourage them to do so with less expensive support and therefore better reimbursement with regard to nicotine substitutes such as patches, chewing gum, etc. This would be done. from spring 2024.

10. Regulations extended to cigars and cigarillos

The rules that applied to cigarettes will be extended to other tobacco products such as cigars and cigarillos, which will also have to have standard packaging. The ban on online sales will be extended to vapes, water pipes, tobacco products and herbal products.

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