Belgium recently took a significant step forward in its fight against smoking and nicotine use, with a series of legislative measures adopted by Parliament and intended to be implemented gradually. Among these measures is the ban, validated by the European Commission in March 2024, on the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes, also known as “puffs”. This decision is presented as a justified and proportionate response to the smoking challenge.
In order to protect young people, Belgium will put an end to the sale of tobacco products in temporary points of sale, such as festivals, from January 1, 2025. In addition, from April 2025, food stores of more than 400 square meters will no longer be authorized to sell tobacco. This measure was initially planned for 2026 but was brought forward by six months. However, the hotel sector, restaurants and cafes will be able to continue to offer these products.
Another important part of this policy is the invisibility of tobacco and nicotine products at points of sale from April 1, 2025. This ban will cover all tobacco products and their accessories, including products based on smoking plants and devices associated with vaping. This measure aims to protect young people and denormalize the use of tobacco and nicotine.
Faced with the observation that the ban on selling tobacco and electronic cigarettes to minors is not respected by a large majority of traders, the Belgian government has decided to strengthen the sanctions. From now on, the courts will be able to impose a temporary sales ban of one to five years on manufacturers who have promoted their products through illegal advertising.
This strengthening of sanctions comes in a context where non-compliance with the ban on sales to minors is also a problem in France, with recent studies showing a similar situation among French tobacconists.
However, the Cancer Foundation raises a point of concern regarding Belgium's delay in supporting smoking cessation. Despite a political consensus on the need for a policy to support weaning, differences remain on the financing of this policy, pitting French-speaking parties in favor of the use of federal taxes against those in Flemish, who prefer a regional allocation of funds. . This cessation policy is considered all the more crucial as Belgium recently increased taxation on tobacco products by 25%, marking another step towards a society less dependent on nicotine.
