The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport has officially postponed the nationwide ban on flavored e-cigarettes to January 1, 2024. This decision, driven by administrative obligations to the tobacco industry, has sparked intense backlash from health advocates who fear prolonged youth exposure to addictive vapes.
State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen announced the three-month delay following a critical recalculation by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The RIVM had drafted a restrictive list of just 16 approved ingredients allowed for producing tobacco-flavored e-liquids, which will be the only legal flavor option left once the ban takes effect.
RIVM Approved 16 Flavoring Ingredients for E-cigarettes
| # | CAS Number | Chemical Name (English) | Common Flavor Description / Role in E-liquids |
| 1 | 35044-68-9 | beta-Damascone | Rose, fruity, and woody tobacco notes. |
| 2 | 23726-91-2 | (E)-beta-Damascone | Trans-isomer of beta-damascone (woody, fruity notes). |
| 3 | 23726-92-3 | (Z)-beta-Damascone | Cis-isomer of beta-damascone (used for tobacco flavor modification). |
| 4 | 23696-85-7 | Damascenone | Provides complex roasted tobacco and dried fruit aromas. |
| 5 | 23726-93-4 | (E)-beta-Damascenone | Trans-beta-damascenone (intense roasted tobacco flavor). |
| 6 | 1125-21-9 | Ketoisophorone | Tea-like, roasted, and herbal notes. |
| 7 | 4883-60-7 | 2-Hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenone | Adds a burnt sweet, hay-like modifier note to tobacco base. |
| 8 | 536-78-7 | 3-Ethylpyridine | Characteristically burnt, smoky, and traditional tobacco note. |
| 9 | 350-03-8 | 3-Acetylpyridine | Popcorn-like, nutty, and toasted tobacco aroma. |
| 10 | 91-10-1 | 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol | Smoky, woody, and provides a “tar-like” mouthfeel. |
| 11 | 67-47-0 | 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural | HMF (provides caramel, burnt bread, and brown sugar notes). |
| 12 | 591-12-8 | alpha-Angelica lactone | Herbal, sweet woody undertone for tobacco masking. |
| 13 | 503-74-2 | Isovaleric acid | Used in trace amounts to provide sourness and a fermented tobacco feel. |
| 14 | 1139-30-6 | (-)Caryophyllene oxide | Woody, spicy, and deep botanical/extract note. |
| 15 | 3738-00-9 | Ambroxide | Ambergris and dry woody notes; enhances the body/thickness of vapor. |
| 16 | 564-20-5 | (3aR)-(+)-Sclareolide | Enhances tobacco flavor with a smooth, rich woody profile. |
While initial estimates suggested 25% of current tobacco-flavor formulations could survive the transition, the updated RIVM analysis revealed a much harsher reality. Only 2% to 23% of existing formulations can actually comply, forcing the government to grant manufacturers more transition time under “good governance” principles.
Van Ooijen expressed deep reluctance regarding the delay, emphasizing that sweet flavors like apple, strawberry, and menthol are explicitly designed to lure children into nicotine addiction. Pulmonologists and health organizations echoed this frustration, noting that the popularity of e-cigarettes continues to climb unchecked.
The Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) labeled the postponement “scandalous.” KWF spokesperson Annebel Schipper warned that delaying the ban directly exposes elementary school children to vaping, jeopardizing the nation’s goal of raising a smoke-free generation by 2040.
To combat rising youth smoking rates in the interim, the Dutch government is pushing ahead with other strict measures, including raising the price of a standard cigarette pack to €10.
