According to a report by Het Belang van Limburg on Wednesday, one in four shops inspected for compliance with the tobacco display ban is found to be in violation.
Since 1 April, a new tobacco law has been in effect for shops. Food stores larger than 400m2 are no longer permitted to sell tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes. Smaller shops can still sell tobacco but must keep these products out of customers’ sight. Of the 623 shops inspected by the Inspection Service of Consumer Products of the Federal Public Health Service for compliance with the display ban, 161 were not in order. Among specialised shops, such as vape shops and cigar stores, 39% were found non-compliant.
Shopkeepers who fail to adhere to the tobacco law risk imprisonment for one month to a year and fines ranging from €2,000 to €800,000. “The shopkeepers who were not compliant have not yet been fined,” said Annelies Wynant, spokeswoman for the Federal Public Health Service. “But this is changing. Shops inspected that have made no effort to comply with the display ban will now immediately receive a report and face fines. Large food shops over 400m2 that continue selling tobacco will also receive an immediate report.”
