TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: Netherlands

  • Tobacco Tax Hikes No Longer Boosting Revenue, Says Dutch Officials

    Tobacco Tax Hikes No Longer Boosting Revenue, Says Dutch Officials

    The Dutch government’s tobacco tax hikes have stopped generating extra revenue due to cross-border cigarette purchases and declining smoking rates, according to a Ministry of Finance report. A 5-cent tax increase per pack was once projected to add €7 million annually, but that figure is now revised to zero. “At the current level of tobacco excise, further increases are expected to trigger strong behavioral changes that will fully offset any extra revenue,” the report stated.

    Finance officials expect tobacco tax receipts to hold steady at €2.5 billion in both 2025 and 2026, with the current excise duty set at €7.81 per pack and no further hikes planned. Customs data showed that 45% of cigarette packs lacked a Dutch excise stamp last year, up from 15% in 2021, illustrating the scale of cross-border buying. Most were legally purchased abroad, where prices are lower, but over 10% were counterfeit.

    Health officials say the hikes are curbing smoking, as the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment estimates 7% of smokers quit after the most recent increase, while 22% cut back.

  • Dutch Schools Sound Alarm Over Dangerous Rise in Illegal THC Vapes

    Dutch Schools Sound Alarm Over Dangerous Rise in Illegal THC Vapes

    Dutch schools are reporting a surge in dangerous incidents linked to illegal THC vapes laced with synthetic drugs, raising alarms among health experts and government officials. The devices, often sold through Snapchat and delivered directly to schools, are marketed as cannabis vapes, but lab tests revealed they almost always contain synthetic cannabinoids, known as “spice,” which can trigger severe side effects such as anxiety, heart palpitations, psychosis, and collapse. These substances have been banned in the Netherlands under the Opium Act since July.

    Addiction specialists warn the problem is spreading beyond Amsterdam to Utrecht, Amersfoort, and other regions. Major addiction clinics and the Trimbos Institute confirmed rising reports of students suffering health issues from THC vaping.

  • Dutch Watchdog Puts Snapchat in Crosshairs for Online Vape Sales

    Dutch Watchdog Puts Snapchat in Crosshairs for Online Vape Sales

    The Dutch consumer watchdog ACM launched an investigation into Snapchat over the alleged large-scale illegal sale of vapes to minors following requests from anti-smoking group Stichting Rookpreventie and the national product safety authority NVWA. The probe will assess whether Snapchat has breached the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires platforms to curb illegal content and protect users, particularly children.

    ACM official Manon Leijten said there was sufficient evidence to warrant the investigation, as many of the vapes advertised on the app are illegal in the Netherlands because they contain child-appealing flavorings. Parent company Snap Inc. said the sale of vapes is banned on Snapchat and that it has taken “reasonable, proportional and effective measures” to prevent such activity. If found in violation, Snapchat could face fines.

  • Dutch Treasury Loses €2.6 Billion as Smokers Buy Abroad

    Dutch Treasury Loses €2.6 Billion as Smokers Buy Abroad

    The Netherlands is losing an estimated €2.6 billion in annual tax revenue as more smokers purchase cigarettes and rolling tobacco abroad, according to tobacco industry association VSK. A new study by WSPM found that in 2020 the loss was €1.4 billion, but steep excise duty hikes in 2023 and 2024 have fueled cross-border buying and black-market sales.

    VSK director Jan Hein Sträter said smokers are not quitting but shifting to cheaper alternatives in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, or even social media channels. Researchers estimate that about 40% of cigarettes and nearly 50% of rolling tobacco consumed in the Netherlands are now sourced abroad, compared to 25% just a year earlier.

    The group urged the government to align tax rates with neighboring countries, warning that without action, billions in potential excise revenue will continue to slip away.

  • 1 in 5 Dutch Stores Violated Tobacco Sales Ban

    1 in 5 Dutch Stores Violated Tobacco Sales Ban

    Nearly 21% of supermarkets and convenience stores violated the Netherlands’ tobacco and vape sales ban in its first six months, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Authority (NVWA). The ban, in effect since July 1, 2024, prohibits the sale of tobacco products in supermarkets, hospitality venues, and online. Smaller stores showed the lowest compliance rates.

    State Secretary Judith Tielen plans to increase fines and give NVWA stronger enforcement powers, including enhanced inspections and product seizures.

    “Every violation is one too many,” said Tielen, who also urged schools and parents to help prevent youth access to vapes. “We will, of course, do what we can to improve, but there are legal challenges and the legislative process takes a very long time.”

  • Dutch Authorities Seize Record Illegal Flavored Vapes

    Dutch Authorities Seize Record Illegal Flavored Vapes

    Dutch product safety authority NVWA and customs officials confiscated 80,000 illegal vapes in a record seizure at a storage facility near Schiphol Airport, marking the country’s largest bust of its kind to date.

    The Chinese-made vapes, flavored with now-banned ingredients like watermelon and kiwi, violate the Netherlands’ 2024 ban on flavored vaping products. The total estimated market value is in the hundreds of thousands of euros, and officials believe the products were intended for domestic distribution.

    This marks the second major seizure from the same importer. In May, authorities intercepted 70,000 vape refills containing similar illegal flavorings. While no fines can be issued because the products were confiscated before reaching consumers, the importer must cover the cost of destroying the vapes, the NVWA confirmed.

    The bust comes amid a broader crackdown led by junior health minister Vincent Karremans, who in May launched an anti-vaping campaign targeting youth vaping, sales of illegal products, and health risks.

  • Fewer Closures Than Expected After Dutch Supermarket Tobacco Sales Ban

    Fewer Closures Than Expected After Dutch Supermarket Tobacco Sales Ban

    More than a year after the Dutch government banned tobacco sales in supermarkets, the feared wave of small supermarket closures has proven less severe than anticipated, according to a new report by Dutch news organization NOS.

    While concerns were raised about the survival of village supermarkets—especially in towns with under 5,000 residents where tobacco sales made up a substantial portion of revenue—only 27 closures occurred among the 542 supermarkets, market researcher Locatus found.

    “That’s better than I expected,” supermarket expert Laurens Sloot said. “The business model of small supermarkets was already under pressure before the tobacco ban. They often have less than 1% profit margin on their annual turnover.”

    Larger supermarkets, by contrast, saw just a few percent decline in turnover due to the ban. However, the loss of tobacco foot traffic has hurt village stores more, as smokers may now choose to shop entirely in nearby cities. Retail analyst Peter ter Hark noted that the ban compounds existing challenges like rising labor costs, automation expenses, and shrinking profit margins. He and Sloot both warned that the trend of small supermarket closures will likely continue, with 15% of stores expected to close in the next decade.

  • Dutch Health Agency: Cross-Border Tobacco Undermines Tax Strategy

    Dutch Health Agency: Cross-Border Tobacco Undermines Tax Strategy

    The Dutch Public Health Agency called for new policy measures to curb the growing trend of cross-border tobacco shopping, which it says is undermining the effectiveness of the Netherlands’ high tobacco taxes. The Netherlands currently has the second-highest cigarette tax in the EU (€7.66 per pack) behind Ireland (€9.92), but inconsistent tax policies across borders continue to challenge its effectiveness.

    Following significant tax hikes in 2024—24% on cigarettes and 45% on rolling tobacco—about 7% of Dutch smokers quit, while 22% cut down, and 14% switched to cheaper brands, according to the agency’s research. However, the number of smokers buying tobacco abroad surged to 60%, up from 40% in 2023 and double 2020. With neighboring countries offering cheaper options, smokers are evading domestic taxes, weakening the public health impact.

    “Policy must focus on reducing purchases of tobacco products made abroad,” the agency stated, urging limits on how much tobacco can be imported for personal use and recommending excise taxes on e-cigarettes to deter youth addiction.

    While the World Health Organization touts tax hikes as one of the most effective anti-smoking tools, their impact appears stronger in low-income countries. In wealthier nations like the Netherlands, the ease of border shopping reduces their effectiveness, the agency said.

  • Dutch Switching Focus from Tobacco to Nicotine 

    Dutch Switching Focus from Tobacco to Nicotine 

    The nicotine content in some tobacco-free smoking products is 18 to 25 times the maximum advisory amount for tobacco products, Dutch health institute RIVM concluded following an investigation on behalf of the health ministry. As the EU has no official regulations in place for nicotine limits in tobacco-free products, the RIVM is recommending the limit be the same as the existing limits for tobacco products.

    Esther Croes, an expert on tobacco at public health institute Trimbos, said strict regulations are needed for products that contain nicotine but no tobacco, and is calling for a ban on new nicotine products entering the market.

    “Manufacturers have done this before, as with Swedish snus,” she said. “That also used no tobacco, but cellulose with nicotine. Tomorrow they will use something else. We have already seen nicotine-infused toothpicks. None of this falls under tobacco legislation.” 

  • Anti-Vape Campaign Kicks Off in Netherlands

    Anti-Vape Campaign Kicks Off in Netherlands

    The Netherlands launched its “Say no to vaping” campaign today (May 12), an action plan that includes discouraging teens from taking up the habit, helping them to stop, and combating the illegal vape trade. New research on behalf of the health ministry said almost one in 10 children have tried vaping by age 12, and almost 40% of 12- to 16-year-olds who use vapes consider themselves addicted.

    According to the research, one in seven teens find it hard to refuse the offer of a vape, while one in six feel they are pressured into using them.

    The campaign will run until June 8.