Dutch Health Minister Vincent Karremans has condemned the European Commission’s decision to delay updating EU tobacco control laws, labeling the postponement “harmful” to public health. In a letter co-signed by Belgium and Latvia, Karremans urged EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi to take decisive action against the rapidly evolving nicotine market.
The dispute arises from the Commission’s omission of tobacco-related legislation from its 2025 work programme. The current Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulates traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes but completely excludes newer, tobacco-free oral products like nicotine pouches.
While industry advocates argue these alternatives are safer than smoking, the EU and the World Health Organization (WHO) maintain that “less harmful” is still dangerous, pointing out that long-term health risks remain unknown.
To protect young consumers, the Dutch minister is pushing for comprehensive EU-wide regulations, including:
- Flavor Bans: Restricting sweet and fruit flavors that appeal to minors.
- Nicotine Caps: Establishing strict maximum nicotine levels for pouches and e-cigarettes.
- Plain Packaging: Expanding standardized packaging rules—currently active in only eight member states—to cover all novel nicotine products.
However, member states remain deeply divided. While the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Finland already apply plain packaging to all nicotine products, nations like Greece and Italy strongly oppose extending these strict measures EU-wide.
The Dutch letter also targets cross-border distance sales, which allow consumers to easily bypass domestic restrictions. For instance, Belgian consumers routinely buy heated tobacco online despite a national ban. Additionally, the letter calls on the EU to collaborate with social media platforms to proactively block and remove content marketing nicotine products to youth.
