In a swift turn around, Dutch MPs have called on the outgoing government to introduce a tax on e-cigarettes and not wait for EU rules as initially planned, reports DutchNews.nl.

A week earlier, the Dutch government had said it would leave the issue of taxing e-cigarettes and vapes up to the new administration after the November election and once green-lit by the EU. Given that Europe-wide legalisation is unlikely to happen before 2026, ministers said they would take matters into their own hands if this is what MPs wanted. According to DutchNews.nl, MPs voted in favour of a D66 motion to introduce a tax on e-cigarettes and vapes, giving the caretaker cabinet the green light to go ahead.
The Telegraaf newspaper had previously reported that the 18 age limit for the use of vapes was widely not being adhered to and said that internet sales of vapes have rocketed upwards. In addition, research by the Trimbos addiction institute shows that one in five youngsters under the age of 25 uses a vape.
In the Netherlands, vaping is much cheaper than smoking cigarettes; an e-cig with pods equating to two packs of cigarettes costing EUR 6 compared to one pack of cigarettes that costs EUR 11.