According to The Mayor.EU's report on July 11th, the Belgian Federal Public Health Service (FPS) announced that starting April 1, 2025, all shops nationwide will not be allowed to publicly display the tobacco products they sell. This means not only hiding brand logos, but also hiding the actual products themselves.
The aim of this restriction is to reduce the smoking rate in the country by decreasing the visibility of tobacco products.
The measure, which was supposed to take effect on January 1st, has been delayed by three months. The ban applies to all types of tobacco and smoking-related products, including cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, filters, and rolling paper.
Furthermore, the Belgian government has raised the price of cigarettes through taxation this year, and has committed to increasing the number of smoke-free public places.
The ban applies to all retailers in Belgium but not to wholesalers. Non-compliance with the restriction may result in up to one year of imprisonment and fines ranging from 2,000 to 800,000 euros.
According to the Belgian news agency Belga, the Belgian e-cigarette retail and distribution alliance VapeBel has expressed disappointment. The alliance stated that professional shops play a role in effectively verifying the age of customers and introducing e-cigarette products as a smoking cessation tool for adult smokers.
VapeBel calls for exceptions to be made for professional stores.
Authorities have stated that retailers should compile price lists that include the names and brands of tobacco products, so that customers know what is available in stores. However, these price lists must not contain any brand logos.
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