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Tag: Dutch

  • Dutch Authorities Seizing Large Quantities of Illicit Products

    Dutch Authorities Seizing Large Quantities of Illicit Products

    Dutch authorities seized large volumes of illicit nicotine products in a series of enforcement actions over the last two weeks, including nearly 220,000 illegal vapes, more than 50,000 boxes of banned nicotine pouches, and 23 million illicit cigarettes. The total value of the items would roughly be in the €14–20 million range.

    The seizures, carried out by the NVWA and FIOD, targeted storage sites and shipping containers across Zuid-Holland and Noord-Brabant, with officials noting the products—many of them flavored—violated national regulations. Eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the cigarette seizures, with authorities estimating potential tax losses of nearly €9 million.

  • Dutch Flavor Ban Backfires: Report  

    Dutch Flavor Ban Backfires: Report  

    A report by advocacy group Prohibition Does Not Work (PDNW) claims the Netherlands’ 2024 ban on flavored vaping “backfired,” with over half of consumers reportedly shifting to illicit or cross-border sources. The report states that youth vaping rates increased from 3.7% in 2023 to 7.6% in 2024, while adult vaping declined from 3.86% to 2.3% by 2026. It also cites data indicating that 27% of users purchased products abroad, 31% used illicit online sellers, and 33% continued to access products through local retail channels despite the ban.

    According to the report, cigarette consumption rose by approximately 1% in 2024, equivalent to around 60 million additional cigarettes, while 27% of former vapers reported increased smoking or initiation after the policy change. The findings also note that 42% of inspected retailers were non-compliant and that most consumers reported ease of access to flavored products. PDNW said the data reflects a shift toward unregulated channels following the restriction, with implications for enforcement and market oversight.

  • Dutch Tobacco Revenues Decline Despite Tax Hikes

    Dutch Tobacco Revenues Decline Despite Tax Hikes

    Tobacco excise revenues in the Netherlands fell to €2.55 billion in 2025 from nearly €3 billion a year earlier, despite multiple tax increases, according to Statistics Netherlands. Cigarette excise duties have doubled since 2020, while taxes on smoking tobacco have more than tripled, pushing the minimum price of a pack of cigarettes to €7.81.

    The decline in revenue coincides with falling smoking rates and shifting consumer behavior. The share of smokers dropped from one in four in 2015 to one in six in 2025, while daily smoking also declined. At the same time, more consumers are purchasing tobacco abroad, with cross-border buying rising significantly, and vaping uptake increasing in recent years.

  • Dutch Retailers Keep Selling Illegal Vapes Despite Fines

    Dutch Retailers Keep Selling Illegal Vapes Despite Fines

    Hundreds of retailers across the Netherlands continue selling illegal flavored vapes and supplying minors despite repeated penalties, according to reporting by RTL Nieuws based on enforcement data from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Records show 244 businesses were fined at least twice over four years, with 72 receiving five fines and six racking up 10 or more; one seller was issued a 14th fine during an inspection observed by reporters and said stopping sales was “not worth it.”

    Inspectors say nearly half of vape checks ended in a fine or warning, but current penalties — ranging from €1,360 for a first offense to a maximum cumulative €22,500 — are failing to deter persistent violators. Administrative law professor Herman Bröring of the University of Groningen told RTL the system is “not working well enough,” while NVWA officials acknowledged sellers are increasingly hiding stock to evade checks as the agency adapts its inspection tactics.

  • 100,000 Illicit Cigarettes Seized at The Hague Supermarket

    100,000 Illicit Cigarettes Seized at The Hague Supermarket

    A coordinated inspection by the The Hague Economic Intervention Team uncovered 102,800 illegal cigarettes at a supermarket in Rustenburg Oostbroek, The Hague. The cigarettes lacked Dutch excise stamps, indicating unpaid taxes and violations of the Excise Act. Officers from Dutch Customs found the products hidden in concealed compartments inside the store and in two company vehicles, which were also confiscated after being linked to repeated illicit trade activity.

    The operation involved partners across the HEIT network, including municipal authorities, police, the food and consumer product safety authority, labor inspectors, and social services, reflecting a broader push to combat economic crime and “undermining” activity tied to illicit tobacco. Local sources indicated this was not the first time illegal cigarettes had been discovered at the business during inspections.

  • Dutch Study: Supermarket Sales Ban Dropped Smoking 1%

    Dutch Study: Supermarket Sales Ban Dropped Smoking 1%

    A study by SEO Economic Research estimates that the Netherlands’ ban on tobacco sales in supermarkets, mini-markets, and night shops from July 1, 2024, led to 23,000 fewer smokers by year-end, about a 1% drop nationwide. The reduction in outlets cut the number of tobacco sales points within 250 meters of homes by half, with 47% of those who quit living in vulnerable neighborhoods, suggesting the measure helped narrow health disparities.

    Researchers found smoking likelihood falls 6% when no outlet is within 250 meters, while overall outlet numbers dropped 60%, forcing consumers to travel 1.5 times farther on average. The findings were welcomed by KWF Kankerbestrijding, which is urging further reductions in retail availability amid growth in standalone tobacco specialty shops.

  • Dutch Customs Seize 12.5M Illegal Cigarettes in Two Weeks

    Dutch Customs Seize 12.5M Illegal Cigarettes in Two Weeks

    Dutch investigators from the Fiscale Inlichtingen- en Opsporingsdienst seized 12.5 million illegal cigarettes in three separate operations over the past two weeks, preventing an estimated €4.2 million in lost excise revenue, according to the Ministry of Finance. The first haul, more than 3.5 million cigarettes, was uncovered on Jan. 28 in Rotterdam hidden inside a container of plastic crates, while a second seizure of 6.5 million cigarettes followed a customs check at Rotterdam port, where cartons were concealed within wooden sauna crates. A further 2.5 million cigarettes were found in raids at premises in Vlijmen and a warehouse in Den Bosch, with authorities stating the tobacco was intended for illegal sale in the Netherlands. One suspect has been arrested, and further arrests have not been ruled out.

  • Dutch Looking to Raise Nicotine Age to 21

    Dutch Looking to Raise Nicotine Age to 21

    The Netherlands plans to raise the minimum legal age for purchasing nicotine products, including cigarettes and vapes, from 18 to 21 under a new coalition agreement between D66, VVD and CDA parties, reflecting growing concern over youth nicotine use, Euractiv reported. The proposal follows a 2025 government study showing 10% of Dutch 12-year-olds have tried vaping and nearly 40% of users aged 12–16 report addiction. The move aligns with a broader European trend, with Latvia already raising the age to 20, Ireland planning to increase the minimum to 21 by 2028 through its “smoke-free generation” strategy, and Finland considering similar changes as part of its 2030 nicotine-free target. Industry groups have criticized the Dutch proposal, arguing it restricts legal adults’ choices and could increase illicit trade and cross-border purchases, while public health advocates support the measure as part of efforts to reduce youth nicotine uptake.

  • Dutch Survey Suggests 7% of ER Visits Nicotine-Related

    Dutch Survey Suggests 7% of ER Visits Nicotine-Related

    A nationwide Dutch study led by researchers at Leiden University Medical Center said that 7% of emergency department patients had symptoms directly attributable to “nicotine use,” based on survey responses from 2,061 patients across 67 hospitals during a 24-hour period in November 2025. Researchers estimate that equates to 26,000 emergency visits directly related to nicotine, and 193,000 overall cases in which nicotine “played a role,” including lung irritation and breathing problems. Cigarette smoking accounted for 86% of nicotine use among the respondents, while the survey also asked about e-cigarettes, snus, and nicotine pouches.

  • Dutch Insurance to Cover Three Attempts to Quit Smoking per Year

    Dutch Insurance to Cover Three Attempts to Quit Smoking per Year

    New health insurance guidelines in the Netherlands that took effect January 1 allow smokers to receive reimbursement for up to three quit attempts per year, a move public health advocates say could significantly boost long-term cessation rates. Data show smokers enrolled in support programs are six times more likely to remain smoke-free for a year, with success rates rising to nearly 30% in the most intensive programs. Despite decades of decline, smoking still affects about 18% of the population—rising to 30% among those with lower education levels—and experts note it takes an average of six attempts to quit for good. While stop-smoking courses cost around €400 per attempt, campaigners argue the expense is outweighed by potential healthcare savings, with studies estimating billions in avoided medical costs and tens of thousands of cancer cases prevented if smoking rates fall sharply over the next decade.