For Félix Rijkers, this measure is also a sanction vis-à-vis people who try to quit smoking.
“Our products are an alternative to cigarettes. It is a means, for many people, to reach withdrawal. If they can no longer find this alternative, they could be tempted to obtain from other markets, especially in France or, worse, via illegal sectors without control of the quality of the products.”
A measure already in force in the Netherlands
The Minister of Health is inspired by the Netherlands, where this measure is already in force. Another error, according to Félix Rijkers. “The figures of the Central Statistics Bureau demonstrate that the number of young people who vapor has increased since the ban on the marketing of aromas. It is not by restricting access to these products that we obtain results. For the Minister, our sector has no other goal than to sell nicotine to young people. He sees us as criminals. It is also impossible to discuss with his cabinet. Or, we may expose the field players and Real situation of the market and the risks of such a measure.
Likewise, the policy on the excisees seems to be a failure too. The consumption of illegal cigarettes in Belgium explodes. More than one in three smoked cigarettes is now illegally bought. This does the business of countries like Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Turkey. All without seeing the number of smokers decrease…
