NVWA Finds Easy Access to Tobacco and E-Cigarettes for Dutch Minors

A recent inspection by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has revealed that it is still easy for minors in the Netherlands to obtain tobacco and e-cigarettes. The NVWA has announced that it will continue to carry out inspections to ensure that businesses comply with age restrictions.

The NVWA conducted spot checks on 35 stores selling e-cigarettes and cigarettes to minors, covering those who are under 18 years old. Two-thirds of these stores (23 out of 35) were found to sell tobacco and e-cigarettes to minors without requesting identification.

The NVWA has dispatched a 17-year-old tester to conduct test purchases and observe the sales situation in stores. The NVWA will impose fines on stores that fail to verify age, with fines ranging from 160 to 9000 euros, depending on the violation history and number of employees of the establishment being inspected.

According to NVWA regulations, if a company is found to have violated regulations three times within a year, the company (or individual) must temporarily suspend the sale of tobacco and electronic cigarette-related products.

In December 2022, a survey conducted in Amsterdam revealed that out of 51 shops that were inspected, 30 of them sold tobacco and e-cigarette products to underage buyers during the test.

The NVWA has announced that it will continue conducting aerial inspections to ensure that businesses comply with age restrictions. The agency is calling on the public to actively participate in achieving the goal of a smoke-free society.

According to 2FIRSTS, Holland will revise and pass a new version of the "Tobacco and Tobacco Products Law" in 2022 and will prohibit the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes starting from January 1, 2023.

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【1】Minderjarigen komen nog steeds te makkelijk aan tabak en vapes