In the past year, entrepreneurs have already faced new measures by the Government of the Netherlands, which are aimed at combating tobacco and smoking. So, in April 2020, excise taxes increased, and in July a ban on placing tobacco and related products in supermarkets in an open to the eyes of the public came into force. From January 1, 2021, the ban on such a demonstration of these goods began to apply to convenience stores, tobacco shops, online stores and gas stations. What exactly do these changes mean?
Do you sell cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products? Then of course you already know about uitstalverbod (displayverbod) or "banned from showing". Let's talk about this in more detail.
On July 1, 2020, a ban came into force that does not allow anything related to smoking to be displayed in open/visible display cases in supermarkets. These goods can still be sold, but they must be in opaque display cases. It's no secret that displays of tobacco products in stores are used by tobacco companies as a way to influence customers and promote the social acceptability of smoking in general. The design of shop windows, their lighting and location are carefully thought out to attract the attention of customers. Display cases that occupy a significant amount of wall space, usually behind cash registers, provide tobacco products with the greatest visibility. In connection with this, the Government decided to “ban the display” - uitstalverbod.
Starting from January 1, 2021, this ban extended not only to supermarkets, but also, for example, to online stores. In other words, online stores are no longer allowed to post images of tobacco products and related products (for example, electronic cigarettes and smoking weed) on their websites. However, this ban has not yet affected lighters and ashtrays - they can be advertised.
In addition, under certain conditions, the display ban does not apply to some specialty tobacco shops. These stores must meet a number of requirements and be registered with NVWADutch Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit... A more detailed explanation of these conditions can be found here
So currently uitstalverbod for tobacco products and related products is valid in / on:
- supermarkets;
- gas stations;
- tobacco and convenience stores (mini-markets);
- pharmacies;
- catering industry and hotels (horeсa);
- night shops;
- kiosks;
- tobacco vending machines;
- online stores;
- other possible points of sale of tobacco products and related products.
If you have any questions about this article, call us or write, and we will definitely answer them!
Publication Date: 26.02.2021
