Market & legal data of the tobacco alternative sector in Europe

18th March 2025: France: Faced with an exceptional drop in tobacco sales in 2024 (-12.3% in volume), tobacconists are seeking to be included in a proposed law against drug trafficking, arguing that tobacco smuggling operates in a similar way. Philippe Coy, president of a confederation representing tobacconists in France, has met with a co-rapporteur of the bill and written to prosecutors to request the recognition of tobacco trafficking as an organised criminal network. He attributes the decline in tobacco sales to the rise in cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting rather than just price increases (some cigarette packs now cost up to €13). Tobacconists’ total revenue across all activities fell by 3.1% in 2024. The government also revised its budget forecast downward, with tobacco tax revenue falling €800m short of initial estimates. The final 2025 Budget Bill did not contain excise duties on novel tobacco products, but this may change in 2026, in an attempt to curb the decline in revenue from tobacco taxes.
18th March 2025: Netherlands: A bill proposing a registration obligation for those selling tobacco and related products was passed by the House of Representatives (lower chamber of the legislature) and has been transferred to the Senate (upper chamber). The Standing Committee for Health, Welfare and Sport has asked the government for some clarifications, as it is unclear if registration will be an effective measure to combat black market sales – considering many consumers buy their preferred products online from abroad. The standing committee joined the House of Representatives in raising concerns at the limited capacity of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), which would be responsible for overseeing these registrations. The legislative procedure is expected to continue as soon as a government answer is received – by 8th April 2025, at the latest.
17th March 2025: Estonia: Today, bill 223 SE on the flavour ban for heated tobacco products (HTPs) was discussed by the Social Affairs Steering Committee. It was decided that the bill will be discussed again in a plenary session on 26th March to conclude the second reading. Then, if the second reading is concluded, the bill will be put to a final vote in plenary session on 9th April.
17th March 2025: UK: The report stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, approved in a second reading in November 2024 by the House of Commons (lower chamber of Parliament), is scheduled to start on 26th March 2025. The bill seeks to introduce a generational ban on tobacco products and herbal smoking products to anyone born on or after 1st January 2009; aims to bring in age, advertising and display restrictions for vape products; and confers powers on the government to further regulate advertising, product and packaging restrictions for nicotine products. The bill also proposes a new licensing retail scheme for tobacco and nicotine products, a vending machine ban on vapes, and public use restrictions for heated tobacco and vapes. The report stage will give members of Parliament an opportunity to consider further amendments (proposals for change) to the bill that has been examined in committee.
17th March 2025: Moldova: Although the bill amending the Tobacco Control Act to introduce stricter measures on tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs), passed its first reading, both the ruling majority and the opposition have voiced their criticism of the proposed measures. Members of Parliament (MPs) expressed concern that the prohibitive restrictions could lead to an increase in smuggling, and said that prevention and education would be more effective. They said the new measures were stricter than the EU Tobacco Products Directive regarding the proposed ban on nicotine pouches. Both parties criticised the proposed ban on the grounds that these products are a potential replacement therapy for those who wish to quit smoking.
17th March 2025: Finland: Kaisa Garedew, a member of Parliament (MP) from the Finns Party (the second-largest party in the governing coalition) has demanded the government takes steps towards extending the rights of workers in child welfare institutions to oblige them to confiscate tobacco and nicotine products from children, media reports.
14th March 2025: Moldova: Yesterday (13th March), the parliament passed the first reading of a draft law to strengthen smoking regulations. The bill would expand the list of places where smoking is prohibited, increase fines, and introduce additional sales restrictions, labelling and health warning requirements for tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). Moreover, the bill plans to ban nicotine pouches.
14th March 2025: Estonia: After several months at a standstill, bill 223 SE is advancing in the legislative procedure. This bill would define heated tobacco products (HTPs) within the Estonian tobacco framework and finally transpose the Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100 on banning flavours in HTPs. The deadline to transpose the directive had already passed on 23rd July 2023. The Social Affairs Standing Committee is scheduled to meet and discuss the bill on 17th March 2025 and potentially complete the first reading.
13th March 2025: Austria: Parliament is in the process of discussing the Budget Restructuring Measures Act 2025, which proposes to increase heated tobacco product (HTP) excise rates to €339/kg. The current Tobacco Act had only planned on increasing heated tobacco taxes to €215/kg in 2026. The bill was already passed in the National Council, and it is now up to the Federal Council to deliberate and propose amendments. If the bill is adopted, the new tax rate will be applicable for all HTPs from 31st March 2025.
13th March 2025: Moldova: The Centre for Health Policy and Analysis, a non-governmental health agency in Moldova, published the findings of its study on nicotine pouches and young people, titled “Young Audience – The Main Target of the Nicotine Sachet Industry”. It argues that aggressive marketing strategies and the use of sweet flavours are deliberately targeting youth. This was published yesterday, 12th March, one day before the draft law that proposes to ban nicotine pouches is discussed by Parliament. Despite having been on the agenda on several occasions, it has not yet been discussed.
13th March 2025: EU: A letter signed by 362 civil society organisations calls on the European Parliament and Council to reject the omnibus package that seeks to weaken due diligence reporting rules, media reports. The omnibus package would remove around 80% of companies from the scope of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and delay reporting timelines for companies in the scope of both the CSRD and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, media reports. We believe that if meeting the requirements, vaping and tobacco companies would also need to adhere to the rules.
13th March 2025: EU: In response to US president Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, the EU has prepared a comprehensive list of US products that might face retaliatory tariffs. The list covers heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes, along with other tobacco and related products. The European Commission has opened a consultation to gather feedback from those impacted by the tariffs, with a submission deadline set for 26th March.

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