News item | 08-05-2023 | 12:23
The previous government announced in the National Prevention Agreement (2018) that it would reduce the number of tobacco sales outlets. The online sales ban is a first step in reducing the number of points of sale.
Ban the online sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes
From 1 July 2023 it will no longer be possible to order cigarettes and electronic cigarettes online. This means that domestic distance sales of tobacco products and related products as well as cross-border distance sales of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and refills are prohibited.
The ban on cross-border distance sales means that from 1 July retailers abroad will no longer be allowed to offer tobacco, e-cigarettes and refill packs online to consumers in the Netherlands, and retailers in the Netherlands will no longer be allowed to sell these products online to consumers abroad.
The ban on cross-border distance sales of electronic cigarettes without nicotine, refills without nicotine, cartridges without nicotine, electronic heating devices and herbal products for smoking will come into force later. These products are not part of the Tobacco Products Directive and rules on these related products are therefore being submitted to the European Commission. The ban on cross-border distance sales of these products is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2024.