Dutch Slam EU Commission Over 'Harmful' Tobacco Legislation Delays

Dutch Health Minister Vincent Karremans has strongly criticized the European Commission’s decision to delay legislation related to new nicotine products, labeling it as “harmful” in a letter addressed to EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi. The letter, seen by Euractiv, comes in response to the Commission’s exclusion of tobacco-related legislation from its 2025 work program.

Karremans urged the Hungarian commissioner to take “decisive” action to protect the health of young people, emphasizing the rapidly evolving market of tobacco and nicotine pouches. The Dutch minister called for the adoption of the Commission’s proposals related to the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and directives on advertising and taxation in 2025.

The letter highlights the need for “comprehensive restrictions on flavours, maximum nicotine levels and plain packaging” for e-cigarettes and other nicotine products. While the original TPD covers traditional and novel products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, it does not include newer products such as nicotine pouches, which do not contain tobacco and are used orally.

Advocates of novel nicotine products argue that these alternatives are significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes and should be regulated differently, citing industry-funded studies. However, the EU and the World Health Organization maintain that “less harmful” still means “harmful” and warn of unknown long-term health effects.

Due to the lack of an EU-wide framework, member states have regulated novel nicotine products differently. For example, plain packaging laws currently exist in only eight member states and mainly target traditional cigarettes. The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Finland extend these rules to all tobacco and nicotine products, while Greece and Italy vocally oppose this approach.

The Dutch minister also raised concerns about cross-border distance sales of novel products, which allow consumers to bypass national restrictions. The letter calls for the establishment of a legal framework to address this issue, as online sales and cross-border trade undermine national efforts to restrict access to these products.

Furthermore, the letter highlights the role of social media in promoting tobacco and nicotine products, especially to young users. Karremans called for greater accountability from social media platforms, urging the EU executive to work with them to remove content that promotes these products.

Belgium and Latvia have also endorsed the Dutch minister’s letter, signaling growing support for EU-wide action on tobacco and nicotine regulations. As the market for novel nicotine products continues to evolve rapidly, pressure is mounting on the European Commission to take decisive steps to protect public health, particularly the health of young people.

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.