Rules on standard packaging for cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco already entered into force on 1 October 2020 (see Government Gazette 2020, 24728). In order to promote coherence and consistency of tobacco control policies, it is important that this standard packaging, also referred to as neutral packaging and plain packaging, is not limited to cigarettes and rolling tobacco. As agreed in the National Prevention Agreement, the Government considers it necessary to prescribe standard packaging for cigars and electronic vaping products as well.

The amendment to the Tobacco and Smoking Products Decree aims to supplement a legal basis on standard packaging for cigars and electronic vaping products in order to lay down further packaging requirements in a Ministerial Regulation. Upon this basis, standard packaging for cigars and electronic vaping products shall be prescribed in a Ministerial Regulation. This Regulation is currently under preparation and shall be notified as soon as this is possible. This amendment to the Tobacco and Smoking Products Decree does not in itself lay down any technical requirements, but since the Decree shall lead to such requirements being included in the Regulation, and the subject of neutral packaging is explained in both documents, the Decree is also notified for the sake of completeness.