These are the tobacco rules you must comply with

The Dutch government introduces new measures every year to reduce the number of smokers. Read below what that means for your business.

Measures in 2023-2024

Ban on tobacco sales in supermarkets

To reduce the number of tobacco outlets, the sale of tobacco in supermarkets will be banned from 1 July 2024. The Netherlands has some 6,400 supermarkets (in 2023).

Sales ban flavoured e-cigarettes

As of 1 January 2024, the sales of e-cigarettes and refill liquids is banned. Think flavours like menthol, apple, vanilla, strawberry, cherry, and mojito. E-cigarettes and refill liquids with tobacco flavour are still allowed. Manufacturing, importing, and sourcing flavoured e-cigarettes and refill liquids has been banned since 1 July 2023.

Higher excise duty on tobacco

An excise duty increase raised the price of cigarettes, cigars, and rolling tobacco on 1 April 2024. A pack of 20 cigarettes now costs about €11 on average. That represents a price increase of €0.60.

The excise duty for a 50-gram pack of rolling tobacco has gone up to an average of about €24. An increase of some €3.60. For cigars and cigarillos, the excise duty is 11 per cent of the selling price.

Excise duty was also increased in 2023.

Registration duty for tobacco sales outlets

The government plans to introduce a registration duty for sales outlets for tobacco and other smoking products. It is not known when this will happen. The duty should apply to tobacco shops, petrol stations, coffee shops, shisha lounges, and supermarkets in care institutions and prisons. These are the only businesses still allowed to sell tobacco.

Different rules (in Dutch) apply to specialist tobacco shops registered with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) . Among other things, these businesses are allowed to display their smoking products indoors, but they must not be visible from the street. 

Ban on remote smoking sales

A ban on remote sales of smoking goods took effect on 1 July 2023. The buyer and seller must now be present at the sale. You may no longer sell tobacco products online, by phone, by mail order or with an order form from a newspaper or magazine.

Measures introduced in 2020-2022

Excise duty increase

Cigarettes and rolling tobacco have been more expensive since 1 April 2020 due to an excise duty increase. The price of other smoking products has also increased.

Ban on sale of menthol cigarettes

The sale and manufacture of menthol cigarettes has been banned since 20 May 2020.

Display ban

The display ban (in Dutch) on smoking products came into force for supermarkets on 1 July 2020. That means you cannot visibly display cigarettes and other smoking products in display cases and displays. Frontage advertising for cigarette brands is also banned.

In addition to supermarkets, the display ban has applied to all other tobacco outlets, such as petrol stations, station kiosks and convenience stores, since 1 January 2021. There is an exception for tobacco shops. These must meet certain conditions (in Dutch).

Plain packaging

Cigarette packs must all have the same, neutral packaging since 1 October 2020. Branding via, for example, logos and fonts is not allowed. This is called 'plain packaging'. The deterrent pictures and warnings remain prominent on packs.

Businesses must close smoking rooms

Smoking areas in commercial buildings have been compulsorily closed since 1 January 2022. This applies to all buildings where people work or come for sports, culture, education or care, for example. On 1 July 2021, all smoking areas in (semi-)public and public buildings were compulsorily closed.

7. Extending ban on tobacco advertising

Do you have a convenience store or outlet where you sell tobacco products, e-cigarettes and e-liquids, among other things? Then you are not allowed to advertise these in the shop and on the facade since 1 July 2022. Specialist tobacco shops (in Dutch) are still allowed to advertise in their shops.

Read more about the rules for tobacco sales