BEL/43
WTO/TBT
BE Belgien
  • 65 - Landwirtschaft
2019-03-19
2019-01-28

Royal order on standardized packaging for cigarettes, rolling tobacco and water pipe tobacco

Arrêté royal relatif au paquet standardisé des cigarettes, du tabac à rouler et du tabac à pipe à eau (Royal order on standardized packaging for cigarettes, rolling tobacco and water pipe tobacco) (7 pages, in French; 7 pages, in Dutch)

The notified regulation seeks to standardize the appearance of cigarette, rolling tobacco and water pipe tobacco packets, on the basis of Article 24 of Directive 2014/40/EU. It aims to define the colour of and the elements that may appear on cigarette, rolling tobacco and water pipe tobacco packaging.

Article 1 of the royal order sets out its scope and Article 2 contains definitions.

Article 3 establishes the relationship between the notified royal order and the royal order of 5 February 2016 on the manufacture and marketing of tobacco products.

Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 set out general provisions.

Article 4 indicates that packets of such products must be in a single shade of colour.

Article 5 indicates that, besides the tobacco-based product, only lining is permitted inside a unit pack.

Article 6 prohibits certain techniques aimed at undermining the plain, standardized character of unit packs, packaging and overpacks. The article also prohibits any inserts or other items inside the unit packs, outer packaging and overpacks.

Article 7 indicates that cigarette, cigarette tube and rolling tobacco paper must be of a single colour.

Article 8 indicates that the exterior and interior surfaces of unit packs, outer packaging and overpacks must be smooth and, in the case of unit packs or outer packaging in a cuboid shape, smooth and flat.

Article 9 addresses the characteristics of unit packs of rolling tobacco.

Article 10 addresses the information that may appear on unit packs.

Article 11 introduces standardized packaging for packets of cigarette tubes and rolling tobacco paper where the brand name is the same as that of a tobacco-based product. Articles 12, 13 and 14 contain final provisions relating, inter alia, to the time frame for implementation and sanctions.