Vape Flavor Ban Postponed Again in Dutch

According to Dutch media, the Dutch government has decided to postpone the implementation of the ban on vape flavors again, which will take effect on January 1, 2024. Previously, the Dutch government planned to ban all flavor vapes except tobacco flavor from October 1, 2023, and the time now is three months later than its originally plan.

The implementation of the vape flavor ban are continuously extending in the previous two years.

In 2021, the Dutch government has already announce the vape flavor ban. At that time, the government plans to officially implement it on July 1, 2022. However, by June 2022, a government spokesperson said that there are some troubles when implementing the vape flavor ban. Therefore, they need additional checks to determine if the flavor ingredients using in vape pens are actually safe.

So, they postpone the time to January 1, 2023, give the vape manufacturers, suppliers and retailers a 10-month window period (officially implemented on October 1). This is set aside for the vape industry to digest their existing flavored vape products.

Various vape flavors of VPFIT’s wholesale vape products(Click the photo to learn more VPFIT wholesale vape)

The sixteen ingredients list for flavored vapes is too harmful to the vape industry.

According to the requirements of the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) of the Netherlands has set up a list of ingredients for the only allowed tobacco-flavored vapes. Initially, they list sixteen ingredients(check the following table).

• beta-Danmascone;
• (E)-beta-Danmascone;
• (Z)-beta-Danmascone;
• Danmascone;
• (E)-beta-Danmascecone;
• Ketoisophorone;
• 2-Hydroxy-3,5,5- trimethyl-2-cyclohexenone;
• 3-Ethylpyridine;
• 3-Acetylpyridine;
• 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol;
• 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural;
• alpha-Angelica lactone;
• Isovaleric acid;
• (-)Caryophyllene oxide;
• (3aR)-(+)-Sclareolide
• Ambroxide;

However, the RIVM now finds that listing sixteen ingredients for flavored vapes is too damaging to the interests of the vape industry.

A government spokesman explains that, the vape flavor ban has a greater impact on vape factories and manufacturers than previously expected. Thus the State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen decides to give them more time.

However, the public health figures expresses concern.

A spokesperson on behalf of the RIVM explains that,

“In an initial calculation, we concluded that about a quarter of the current flavor vapes still exist. But a recalculation shows that that percentage is now lower. Somewhere between 2 and 23 percent of the flavors still exist with which the vape suppliers can use.”

Public health professionals worry that the flavor vape ban delay will lead to a continue rise in the prevalence of vape pen products. And it may also cause a series of adverse effects.

In a response, Van Ooijen says he would have preferred to ban the flavors right now.

But he emphasizes that this is delaying the plan, not canceling it.

“The additional analysis by RIVM shows that the ban on flavors has a potentially greater impact on producers than we previously thought. It is my duty to address this from the principles of good governance.”

The Cabinet aims for a smoke-free society by 2040.

At the same time, the government is doing everything it can to reduce smoking. During the current government term, the price of cigarettes will rise to 10 euros.