The Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) has signaled strong majority support for a motion to radically strip e-cigarettes of their appealing designs. This legislative push, initiated by the political party D66, comes amid growing alarm that vapes are serving as a gateway product to traditional smoking for young people.
Currently, many e-cigarettes are designed to mimic luxury accessories, resembling lip gloss, highlighters, or even wireless earbuds. D66 MP Jeanet van der Laan argued that these glittery, colorful designs disguise the health risks, leaving parents unaware of what their children are carrying.
To counter this “glamour” marketing, the proposed motion demands that vapes be made as neutral and uniform as possible. Lawmakers want them to either look like traditional cigarettes or be restricted to plain white or black packaging.
This strategy mirrors the successful neutral packaging laws previously applied to traditional cigarettes. While D66’s motion is expected to pass, other Dutch parties, including the PvdA and SP, are advocating for even stricter regulations to curb the vaping epidemic.
