Stricter European Policy
The visit follows the letter that Secretary of State Karremans sent last March. With the support of 11 other EU member states, he urged the European Commission to make EU legislation for vapes and other nicotine products much stricter. Flavors that make vapes attractive to young people should be restricted across the EU, and cross-border remote sales between EU countries should be addressed. Karremans also calls on the Commission in the letter to work together with social media platforms to do more against the sale and marketing of tobacco and nicotine products via social media.
Working Together
Like the Netherlands, Belgium also aims for a smoke-free generation by 2040. Therefore, both countries want to collaborate to implement stricter measures for vapes at the European and national levels. Currently, there is a flavor ban for vapes in the Netherlands and a ban on disposable vapes in Belgium. When more uniform regulations for vapes are introduced in European countries, it will become less attractive for people to purchase vapes across borders.
Speech for the WHO
Not only the Netherlands is sounding the alarm about the consequences of the increasing popularity of vapes. The WHO is also drawing attention to this with the event Unmasking the Industry Tactics: Safeguarding Europe’s Youth through Stronger Policies. Secretary of State Karremans will deliver the opening speech here, in which he discusses the importance of collaboration and a prompt revision of European legislation, so that we can address the challenges we face on the road to a smoke- and nicotine-free generation by 2040.