The Dutch government says that the fancy packaging often found on cigars is enticing for young people, and as such, is considering passing a new law that would require them to have plain packaging, Halfwheel is reporting. The law being considered would require the outer boxes to be covered in a specifically-colored brown sticker with a health warning on it, would require tubes to be in a neutral color, and would prohibit retailers from displaying open boxes in stores.
According to the European Cigar Manufacturers Association (ECMA), the proposal’s language would allow for non-compliant packaging to be imported for six months after the proposal’s effective date, and retailers would have two years from the effective date to sell the non-compliant packaging.
“As niche and occasionally consumed products, cigars play no part in smoking initiation of young Dutch people with ever fewer adult connoisseurs consuming them,” said Paul Varakas, director general of the ECMA. “During this period during which cigars have been excluded from the scope of plain packaging, there has been no observed increase in cigar consumption in the Netherlands or in other countries with plain packaging. In fact, in these markets, cigars have continued a long-term downward trend in consumption. For these reasons, ECMA considers the introduction of plain packaging for cigars in parallel with e-cigarettes to be completely inappropriate and unjustified.”
The government has offered a comment period that will remain open until August 13. Those wanting to comment can click here.
