Belgium Bans Display of Tobacco Products in Shops Starting April 1
As of April 1/2025, retailers in Belgium are no longer allowed to display tobacco products at points of sale, following an amendment to the consumer health protection law of January 24, 1977. The ban encompasses cigarettes, cigars, rolling papers, water pipe tobacco, and e-cigarettes, and prohibits the sale of these products in food stores larger than 400 square meters.
Retailers must now conceal all tobacco-related products, smoking items, and e-cigarettes both inside and from the exterior of public points of sale, including bookshops, supermarkets, petrol stations, night shops, and duty-free stores at airports. Products must be hidden in drawers, closed containers, or behind curtains, sliding doors, or opaque glass panes.
Storage areas are required to remain neutral, without lights, images, or brand names, and should only be accessible to store personnel, closing immediately after use. Customers can purchase tobacco products via a plain list that includes brands, types of products, quantities, and prices, available in either paper or digital format.
Violators of these regulations may face prison sentences ranging from one month to one year and fines between €2,000 and €800,000.
The tobacco lobby, Cimabel, has expressed concern that these new anti-tobacco measures will boost the illegal cigarette trade and increase costs for retailers, potentially deterring some from continuing to sell tobacco products. The federation fears that Belgian consumers, who already turn to cheap illegal cigarettes, will increasingly purchase from illegal sources, leading to an annual tax revenue loss of 2.2 billion euros.
Despite the health risks, recent figures from the Cancer Foundation show that 24% of Belgians smoke, with 19% doing so daily. In Belgium, 14,000 deaths annually are attributed to smoking, and around 300,000 people suffer from tobacco-related illnesses.
- News source: Tobacco products can no longer be displayed in shops
