28 août 2024 – The Federal Council adopted the Tobacco Products Ordinance (Tabakprodukteverordnung, TabPV), which, together with the Tobacco Products Act (Tabakproduktegesetz, TabPG), will take effect on 1 October 2024. The Act aims to protect public health, especially minors, from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine. It regulates traditional and electronic cigarettes, as well as other nicotine-containing products, and extends passive smoking protection to all such products. Key measures include a nationwide sales ban for individuals under 18 and stricter advertising restrictions.

The Regulation also encompasses additional products such as plant-based heating substances and nicotine snuff, applying similar restrictions. Furthermore, a legal framework for test purchases has been established, allowing results to be used in court to enforce the sales ban. Additionally, the popular initiative «Children Without Tobacco» approved in February 2022, aims to ban all forms of tobacco advertising targeting minors. A legislative proposal to implement this initiative is currently under parliamentary review and seeks to address existing gaps in youth protection.

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