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.
Reference list:
【1】Minderjarigen komen nog steeds te makkelijk aan tabak en vapes
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
