RIVM publishes new data from manufacturers on tobacco products
On behalf of the Dutch Ministry of VWS (Health, Welfare and Sport), RIVM has published new data on tobacco products. For the first time, these data include the ingredients of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal smoking products.

Darker cigarettes and other measures to make cigarettes less appealing
There are a number of measures that can be implemented to make cigarettes less appealing and less addictive. For example, manufacturers could make cigarettes a darker colour. They could also stop using ingredients like sugars and flavourings.

RIVM prepares a recommended list of banned substances in tobacco products and e-cigarettes
The goal of the European Tobacco Products Directive is to make tobacco products and e-cigarettes less harmful, addictive and attractive. The directive does not specifically state which substances are not allowed in tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

RIVM: seven e-cigarette flavourings with tobacco-taste pose health risk
The Dutch government only wants to allow 23 e-cigarette flavourings with a tobacco-taste. RIVM examined whether these 23 flavourings are harmful to people’s health.

Awareness and use of cigarillos, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches relatively low
The awareness and use of cigarillos, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches is relatively low. This is apparent from research by RIVM among Dutch people aged 13 and older, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
RIVM recommends limiting number of e-cigarettes flavourings to 23 with tobacco taste only
The government wishes to make e-cigarettes less attractive, in particular for young people.

Menthol facilitates inhalation of tobacco smoke, even when you cannot taste it
Even when menthol cannot be tasted, the substance makes it easier to inhale tobacco smoke. This way, menthol makes smoking more attractive for young and novice smokers who are not yet used to inhaling sharp, pungent tobacco smoke.

How to distinguish a dual user from an exclusive e-cigarette user
RIVM and Maastricht University have identified a combination of factors that can be used to distinguish between exclusive e-cigarette users (vapers) on the one hand and people who smoke both regula

RIVM measures much higher levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes
Tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) levels measured in accordance with the Canadian Intense (CI) method are at least twice as high as the levels measured in accordance with the prescribed ISO

Addictive nicotine and harmful substances also present in heated tobacco
Heated tobacco products are newly available on the market. An example of such a product is the heatstick which is heated with an iQOS, a device that looks like an e-cigarette.
