<\/p>\n
While the plain packaging for cigars and cigarillos officially came into effect this Monday, June 1st, in Belgium, the authorities are partially acknowledging the specific nature of these products and relaxing some of the measures stipulated in the initial decree.<\/p>\n
Since June 1st, 2026, Belgium has applied the “standardized packaging” to all tobacco products, including cigars and cigarillos. This measure had sparked considerable concern within the industry, as it seemed to disregard the particular characteristics of this traditional product and the restrictive measures already in place, especially the display ban (prohibiting tobacconists from displaying cigars in view of customers) which has been in effect since April 1st, 2025.<\/p>\n
In a letter obtained by L’Amateur de Cigare, the Federal Public Service for Health announced several significant relaxations to professionals in the sector.<\/p>\n
The first notable change: the cigar band will ultimately not be considered a prohibited item. Belgian authorities recognize that it is “an integral part of the product.”<\/p>\n
Another concession obtained by the industry: “The neutral elements strictly necessary for the preservation of cigars and cigarillos may remain in the packaging,” the letter specifies, which allows, for example, a wooden interior or the presence of spacers between the cigars.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Belgian government has also decided to allow the sub-brand to be displayed on cigar and cigarillo packaging. Originally, the decree from last August only allowed a maximum of three words to designate each product.<\/p>\n
The letter from the Federal Public Service for Health also stipulates that certain technical provisions applicable to other tobacco products will not apply to cigars and cigarillos.<\/p>\n
These changes have not yet been published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge). However, they have already been submitted to the Conseil d’Etat State and should come into force following this review, with retroactive effect to June 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
The administration indicates that these relaxations will be taken into account during inspections, even before their official publication if administrative deadlines require it.<\/p>\n
Plain packaging remains the rule in Belgium. But after wanting to apply a uniform model to all tobacco products, the Belgian government seems to admit that cigars deserve, at least in some aspects, special treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Original bands are permitted and the designation of references is relaxed. While the plain packaging for cigars and cigarillos officially came into effect this Monday, June 1st, in Belgium, the authorities are partially acknowledging the specific nature of these products and relaxing some of the measures stipulated in the initial decree. Since June 1st, 2026, Belgium has applied the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":29462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1098,1051],"tags":[1233],"class_list":["post-34143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-monde-du-cigare-2-en","category-the-world-of-cigars-en","tag-belgium"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n